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VNNETTE WYNNE 



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FOR 

DAYS 

AND 

DAYS 






MY BOOK 



A little gate my book can be 
That leads to fields of minstrelsy 
And though you think I sit at home 
Afar in foreign fields I roam. 



FOR 

DAYS AND DAYS 

A YEAR-ROUND TREASURY 
OF CHILD VERSE 



BY 

ANNETTE WYNNE 

WITH A FRONTISPIECE IN COLOR BY 
ALICE BEARD 




NEW YORK , 
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS 



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Copy right p 1919, by 
Frederick A. Stokes Company 



All rights reserved 



0-:: i4 !9I9 



>C!.A530941 



THIS BOOK OF SONGS 

I DEDICATE TO 

ROBERT 

WHOSE MOTHER WENT AWAY 

TO 
BETTY AND JENNIE 

AND TO 

PATRICIA 
A LITTLE MAID OF HOONAH, ALASKA 



FOREWORD 

The aim of these verses is to please children-— 
and others. They were written, and arranged 
calendar-wise, for school children's entertain- 
ments. Most teachers and parents find a dearth 
of usable material for young people's recita- 
tions ; it is a commonplace that all good poetry is 
not good for such purposes. An attempt has 
been made to furnish, for all sorts of days, ma- 
terial that is close to the children's experience and 
at the same time timely. This book, therefore, is 
offered in the hope that it will facilitate the 
search of parents and teachers for joyous relax- 
ation in the Land of School and otherwheres. 

Annette Wynne, M. A. 



vfi 



ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

The author desires to thank the pubHshers of 
the following magazines for permission to use 
certain copyright poems in this book: St. Nich- 
olas, Youth's Companion, The Woman's Week- 
ly, The Portland Spectator, Little Folks, The 
Primary Kinder gartner. The Liberator, The 
Beacon, New Fiction, Munsey's and The Survey. 



IX 



Come, pretty songs, and fill my pages. 
Songs for children — little sages. 
Songs that laugh and love the sun. 
Songs that scamper, leap, and run. 
Songs for bright and darkened places. 
Songs for gay or saddened faces. 
Come out from your haunts again. 
Troop out from the rock and glen. 
Fill my eager little pen! 




CONTENTS 



Janiiary 

A Little Calendar . 

The World's a Moving Picture Play 

I'm January .... 

The Little New Year's Come to Stay 

Twelve Months in a Row . 

This Is God's Day . 

Each New Little Day Slips Out of My Hand 

To-day 

Sea With Good Arms . 

1 Marred a Day 
The Song Shop . 
If It Were January All the Year 
It Isn't Only Flakes That Fall . 
For a Child's Book . 
Who Would Tear a Page . 
Good-Morning, Sun . 
Each Dawn .... 
The Wires Are So Still and High 
If Love Were Mine . 
Family Cares .... 
The Little Window . 
The Little Plant on the Window Speaks 
Indian Children 
Fierce Parents .... 
The Scholar .... 
My Book Holds Many Stories . 
A Wish Is Quite a Tiny Thing . 

zi 



FAQB 

3 
4 
4 
5 
5 
6 
6 
7 
7 
8 

9 
10 
11 
12 
12 
IS 
14 
14 
15 
16 
17 
17 
18 
19 
19 
20 
20 



Xll 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 


God's House Has a Ceiling . . . .21 


Letters Are Small Angels .... 




21 


"Guck-Acht-che?" . 






22 


The Happy Little Clock . 






23 


Days . . . , 






24 


The Rhinoceros 






25 


The Elephant . 






25 


O Little Road . 






26 


Song of Our Land . 






26 


Book, Book 






27 


The Poor Trees Stand and Shiver So 




28 


Little Maid of Far Japan 




29 


Mighty Things .... 




SO 


The Little New Pupil .... 




30 


Little Tiger Cat ... . 




31 


Where, Do Thoughts Come From? . 




32 


The Sunshine Has a Pleasant Way . 




33 


February 


I'm Not Just February 37 


Leap Year .... 






38 


A Little Boy and a Cherry Tree 






38 


Washington .... 






. 39 


Lincoln ..... 






. 39 


Greeting ...... 






40 


Hearts Were Made to Give Away 






40 


Winter ..... 






41 


Great Washington 






41 


It Must Have Been Quite Queer 






42 


Land of School 






. 43 


When Our Land Was New 






43 


The Postman .... 






44 


Books Never Tell . 


• • < 






44 



CONTENTS 



xiu 



PAGE 


Man and Dog and Horse and Tree . 


45 


Outside the Door .... 






46 


Where Is Our Flag's Home? . 






46 


Books Are Soldiers .... 






47 


The Water Falls Upon the Ground . 






48 


The Pleasant Dark .... 






48 


A Letter Is a Gipsy Elf . 






49, 


High and Mighty .... 






49 


Friendly Little Wishes . 






50 


The Children Clap Their Hands . 






50 


My Candle Most Absurdly Small . 






50 


The Foreign Children Never Know . 






51 


The Telegraph 






51 


I Know a Man 






52 


My Book ....•• 






52 


Geography Journeys 






52 


Some Curious Folks .... 






54 


A Busy Street 






54 


The House-Cat .... 






55 


My Window Looks upon the Sky 






55 


The Stars Are Blinking . 






56 


The Dark 






, 56 


To an Old Tree .... 






57 


Lands and Oceans . 






. 57 


A Sailor Bold 






, 58 


When a Boy Plays in the Yard . 




. 59 


March 


March, March 


. 63 


Never Mind, March . 


• 


• 


. 64 


Jack Frost in March 


• 


• 


. 64 


March . . . . • 


• 


• 


. 65 


Every One Knows March's Way 


. 


• 


. 65 



XIV 



CONTENTS 



There's So Much in the World to Play 

St. Patrick's Day .... 

Before the Fountains Flow 

The Windy Day . . . 

My Land Is God's Land . 

The Small Clouds Nestled in the Sky 

The Winds of March 

End of March 

The March Wind Comes . 
You Can Measure the Steeple . 
Clear Away ..... 

Tired of Snow 

Riches ...... 

The Teacher Loves to Keep the Rule 

The Far North 

The Windows ..... 

Poets Have the Best of Times . 

The Little Bird upon the Tree . 

End of Winter ..... 

The Sea That Comes to Meet My Hand 

The Milky Way 

Safe and Sound .... 



April 

Calling the Roll 

April Is a Baby 

When Parents Go Out Shopping 

Pretty Nearly Everybody . 

Mother's Fingers 

When the Day Is Over . 

Sleep Time .... 

One, Two, Winter's Through . 

Mothers 



PAGE 

66 
66 
67 
67 
68 
69 
69 
70 
71 
72 
72 
73 
73 
74 
74 
75 
75 
76 
76 
77 
78 
79 



83 
83 
84 
84 
84 
85 
85 
86 
86 



«» 



CONTENTS 



XV 



The Fairy School ..... 
Suppose You Were a Little Seed Underground 
April, the Magician .... 
The Roofs All Day .... 
A Beggar-Bird ..... 

The Teacher 

Here's a Lazy Pussy 

When the Rain Came Down 

The Little Seed Speaks . 

The Spring Race .... 

Good-Morning, Day .... 

Piping Robin ..... 

Thoughts and Flowers 

Beginning to Grow .... 

April's Shiny New .... 

In the Garden ..... 

The Flower Children Underground . 
An Orphan ..... 

I Shall Play a Little Song on My Pipe 
Pussy Willow Days .... 

Here's the Seed, First I Dig . 

Rain, Rain, April Rain . 

Spring ...... 

Spectators ..... 

What Does the Seed Wait for Underground? 
Are You Frowning, April-Child? 
The Grass Is Very Glad for Rain . 
Spring Signs Out .... 

Work to Do . 

Dandelions in the Sun 

The Curly White Cloud Loves the Sky 

Spring Came Walking 

Let's Take the Road and Follow April 



PAQB 

87 

88 

89 

90 

90 

91 

91 

92 

94 

94 

95 

96 

96 

97 

97 

98 

98 

99 

99 

100 

100 

101 

101 

102 

102 

lOS 

103 

104 

105 

106 

106 

107 

107 



XVI 



CONTENTS 



March and April 

Little Bird, O Will You Be? . 

The Beggar-Trees 

Crocuses, Crocuses, How You Grow 

Gold Hunting .... 

The Little Cloud Comes Down . 

Little Baby Pussies . 

Easter Day .... 

Trees to Let .... 

I Know a Pussy 



May 



**Moon of Green Leaves'* . 

All the World Is Right for Play 

May ...... 

May Is Pretty, May Is Mild . 
All the Things a Bird Is . 
Little Folks in the Grass . 
May Has Such a Winsome Way 
Spring Comes with Wand in Hand 
The Tree Outside . 
A Thousand Thoughts 
Twilight .... 

To a Bird .... 

Who Is It Sits at the Top of the Hill? 

How a Fairy Spends the Day 

The Peeping Vine . 

To a Tree 

The Garden Wasn't a Garden 

The Friendly Tree . 

May Snow 

Some People Like the Great Things 

Flowers Laugh and Talk and Play 



PAGE 

108 
109 
109 
110 
110 
112 
113 
114 
115 
116 



119 
119 
120 
120 
121 
122 
123 
124 
124 
125 
126 
126 
127 
128 
128 
129 
129 
130 
130 
131 
132 



CONTENTS 



xvii 



Blue-Eyed Grass of May . 

The Glad Sun . 

Gods Gold .... 

Friendly Tree, This Is Your Day 

One Little Cloud Is Out To-day 

The First of May . 

A Bird May Sit and Sing . 

The Fountain Is So Happy 

Arbor Day .... 

The Tree That Lives Beside the Brook 

I'm a Pirate .... 

Ocean Mightier Than the Land 

Who Would Hurt a Horse or Tree 

Thoughts .... 

A Cat Might Sit up in a Tree 

Memorial Day . . . 

If a Bird May Think . 

May Has Decked the World 

The Sparrow's Little Wings 

May Baskets 

The Airplane . 



132 

133 

133 

1S4, 

135 

135 

136 

136 

137 

138 

138 

139 

140 

140 

141 

141 

142 

142 

14S 

143 

144 



June, J lily y August 

Why Was June Made? . 

Sputtering Glow-Worm 

June ....-• 

Daisies Standing in the Rain . 

There's No Land Like Our Land 

Sky and Tree and Hill and All . 

Up Clover Lane 

The Grassy-Meadow-School 

The Fairy Trail 

The Meadow Brook . 



147 
148 
148 
149 
149 
150 
150 
151 
152 
153 



XVlll 



CONTENTS 



PAQB 


Songs 154 


I Like to Wander OS Alone . 






155 


A Butterfly Talks .... 






. 156 


World of Clover, White and Red . 






156 


Wave, Wave, Wave .... 






157 


Lions Running Over the Green . 






157 


Flag, Our Flag .... 






158 


Things That Walk with Feet . 






159 


Flags 






159 


I Like the Brook . , . , 






160 


The Leader 






160 


Hills 






. 161 


A Paper Moon ..... 






161 


I Wonder Did Each Flower Know? . 






162 


The Lady Has a Garden . 






162 


The Poor Little Rich Flower . 






. 163 


June's Picture ..... 






164 


"June" Sang the River . 






. 165 


God's Garden .... 






. 166 


Harebells ..... 






. 166 


The Harebells Ring . 






. 167 


June's Flag .... 






. 167 


If Your Nurse Is Cross or Mean 






. 168 


Butterfly, Lend Me Your Wings, I I 


'ray 




. 168 


June Is Such a Bonny Time . 






. 169 


I Heard a Little Fairy Say . 






. 169 


I Took a Little Seed to You . 






. 170 


Red and White Roofs 






. 170 


July ...... 






. 171 


Holidays ..... 






. 171 


There's Many a Lonesome Daisy 






. 172 


Two Skies .... 






. 172 


The Sea Rolls Up ... , 






, 178 



CONTENTS 



XIX 



To the Cornflower . 

Summer Glory . . . • 

August 

People Buy a Lot of Things . 

Long Ago and Far Away . 

Bright Shines the Star-Dipped Flag 

Harebells in June . 

All Day the Happy Indian 

It's Fun to Have a Secret . 

Lamps 

Little Eskimo . 

Being a Fairy . 

Being a Hermit 

The Sun . 

Bird of the Sky 



September 

September 

Eugene Field 

End of Fun 

After Vacation 

Magic 

The Little Words Within My Book 

The Traffic Man 

The Mayor's Children 

The Fairies Do Not Like the Dark 

Trains in the Grass . 

Pens Make Word Pictures 

The Tree Stands Very Straight and 

The Forest . . . • 

When Children Play and Romp About 

Alone and Together . 

Little Room 



Still 



173 

174 

175 

175 

176 

177 

177 

178 

179 

180 

181 

182 

184 

185 

186 



189 

189 

190 

191 

191 

192 

192 

193 

193 

194 

196 

196 

197 

197 

198 

199 



XX 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 


Lazy Little Firefly 200 


The Tall Trees Look Out Very Far 




. 201 


The Straight Young Trees 




. 201 


Giant Land . . . . 




. 202 


Weather Cock .... 




. 202 


Waifs 




. 203 


A Dream ..... 




. 203 


The Mountain May Seem Very Hig 


h 


. 204 


Sometimes .... 




. 204 


Colored Countries 




. 205 


In Land and Sea and Sky and Air 




. 206 


Once When You Were Walking 




. 206 


The Sky Loves the Tall Hills . 




. 207 


Good Words 


, 




. 207 


Blue 


, 




. 208 


The Moon Walked . 






. 208 


In School .... 


> 




. 209 


October 


October 213 


Autumn Play 






. 213 


Before It's Time to Go to Bed , 






. 214 


I Love These Days . 






. 215 


Cars Go Fast . . . , 






. 216 


Across the Bridge . 






. 217 


Worktime and Sleeptime . 






. 217 


Song for Columbus Day . 






. 218 


The Three Little Ships . 






. 219 


Little Columbus 






. 220 


Columbus ..... 






. 221 


Song of Columbus , 






. 222 


Palos, Spain^ 1492 . 






. 223 


In Columbus* Time . 






. 224 



CONTENTS 



XXI 





PAG£] 


Isabel 


. 224 


Old Witch Riding By 




. 225 


Seeing . . , . , 




. 226 


Christopher Columbus 




. 226 


Chairs . . . . , 




. 228 


Hallowe'en 




. 228 


Boxes 




. 229 


A Hermit on an Island . 




. 229 


The Leaves Do Not Mind at All . 


. 230 


The Little Leaf .... 


. 231 


Novemher 




November 


. 235 


The Autumn Wind 


. 236 


Thanksgiving Day . . . • , 


. 236 


The World Is So Tired, Sky . 


. 237 


Not Thankful 


. 237 


The Grown-Ups .... 


. 238 


My Little Star 


. 238 


When People Grow Too Big and Wise 


. 239 


God's House 


. 239 


When Days Are Crisp and Bright . 


. 240 


The Pilgrims Came . . . . , 


. 241 


Sun, Dear Sun ...... 


. 242 


Tusitala . . . . . 


. 243 


The Library ...... 


. 244 


Where Bananas Grow . . . . 


. 244 


The Moon and I 


. 245 


I Wonder if the Lion Knows . 


. 245 


I Think I'd Like You Better, Star . 


. 246 


Fierce Adventures . . . . , 


. 247 


A Friendly Word 


. 248 


To Our Good House . 


^ ^ 


. 248 



XXll 



CONTENTS 



God Made the Mountain Very High 

To Make a House . 

Homes 



249 
249 
249 



December 



December ..... 

The Postman Is a Happy Man . 
Every Day's a Little Year . 
Snow in Schooltime .... 
Feathery Snow ..... 

Work Wanted 

Yesterday the School Was Red . 

I Wish You Were More Friendly, Sky 

For Every Star ..... 

The Letter Man .... 

Sheep That Keeps Me Warm To-day 

If Santa Did Not Like His Work . 

On the Ice 

Behind Each Star . 

Song of the Snowflakes . 

The Fir Tree . 

Great White World . 

Our Christmas Tree . 

Pretty Fir Tree 

Going to the Poor . 

It Must Be Fine to Stand and Sell 



253 
253 
254 
254 
255 
256 
257 
258 
258 
259 
259 
260 
260 
261 
261 
262 
263 
264 
265 
266 
267 



© 



INTRODUCTION 

Y the rarest intuition Miss Wynne has 
come to know the full experience of 
childhood. That's an uncommon posses- 
sion among grown-ups ; the rarest of uncommon 
possessions among poets — even though poets be 
but grown-up children. The Heaven that "lies 
about us in our infancy" is a child's realization 
of the world we inhabit but do not, except on the 
rare occasion of visiting a Stevensonian "Gar- 
den" or "For Days and Days" spending a Wyn- 
nian year, share with it. To visit such a gar- 
den and to spend such a year is, for most of 
us, to taste the full experience of childhood's past 
in the now of grown-ups, and those vanished days 
which were our own are the common possession of 
humanity from generation to generation. "Shades 
of the prison-house" close upon nearly every one 
of us, swallowing up all our personal recogni- 
tions of infancy and childhood. To a few, a very 
few, the "shades" are but a curtain easily Hfted 
by the intuition, through which the imagination 
flows, illuminating the juvenile experience of the 
past. Only now and then a poet comes amongst 



ZXUl 



xxiv INTRODUCTION 

us who in the full development of adult faculties, 
still remains intuitionally and imaginatively a 
child ; who can, not with mere literary conjuration 
and wizardry, but with absolute mood and ex- 
perience, express, picture, and interpret the 
child's wonderful world. How few such poets 
are we know by the small number of books of 
verse that furnish us, and what is more important 
our children, with a chart for sailing the illimit- 
able seas of a child's wonder. The classic names 
that stand for the perfection of such a chart 
are very few. When we pronounce Lewis Car- 
roll, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Eugene Field 
— we hesitate to go on confidently to the fourth. 
That hesitation shall no longer exist for those 
who come to know and admire this collection of 
child-verse by Miss Annette Wynne. 

The right to be added in such classic company 
is not a whit too much of distinction to bestow 
upon this new poet. She begins from the very 
start in the possession of that engaging speech 
which is indispensably the gift to articulate the 
compound of wonder and curiosity in a child's 
thought, the happy, spontaneous, inimitable 
utterance, natural and unconscious of its audi- 
ence, and yet so bright and picturesque, so mag- 
ical — that's the term — in its artlessness. When 
Stevenson wrote — 



INTRODUCTION xxv 

The world is so full of a number of things 
I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings 

he reached this perfection of child's speech in 
verse by which I am going to test Miss Wynne's 
gift with this couplet — 

Letters are small angels flying in between 

All the houses of the town, red, and gray, and green — ' 

and leave it as a successful comparison of her 
gift to command the language of child-verse. 

What Miss Wynne accomplishes with that lan- 
guage is unique. There is no achievement like 
it, that I know of, in our literature. In this she 
has created a delight for the child and rendered 
a very important service for the parent and 
teacher. The child makes its world out of its 
thoughts and dreams to which the visible earth 
is but a decorated framework. This world Miss 
Wynne has visualized for him through a poetized 
calendar. It is a wonderful mirror of rhymes 
into which the child looks to see the reflection 
of its own nature. It is an inexhaustible foun- 
tain of interests from which the parent or the 
teacher draws to quench the child's thirst for 
entertainment. I will not so much as hint at all 
the infinite aspects of nature, or the variety of 
mood and experience, which have poured their 
riches into Miss Wynne's songs, because I wish 



xxvi INTRODUCTION 

to emphasize the pleasing and instructive feature 
of her book she has made in celebrating with the 
child all our holidays in verse. Indeed, for the 
child himself, for the home or for the school, noth- 
ing was ever more appropriately and consum- 
mately accomplished than this aspect of Miss 
Wynne's collection. All the treasures of the 
kingdom of childhood are given us in this 
calendar of songs. And I feel confident that 
future generations will cherish it as a classic. 

William Stanley Braithwaite. 

Cambridge, 

Massachusetts. 



Jfanuarp 



THE NEW YEAR 

DAYS 

BOOKS 

AND 



<C 



NUMBER 
OF 



TfflNGS" 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

A Little Calendar 

^ — I'aNUARY'S new, 
m^ B^February's cold, 

March is puffing, blowing too, 

April's good as gold; 

May's a child of happy face. 

Laughter, love, and every grace; 

June dreams all the day ; 

July's for liberty; 

August is too hot for play; 

September's glorious to see, 

October is a ruddy time, 

November winds are drear. 

December means Old Santa Claus 

Will soon be here! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The World's a Moving 
Picture Play 

CHE world s a moving picture play. 
Every picture is a day ; 
The picture lasts till set of sun. 
And then the picture play is done ; 
And then we sleep and wait to see 
What the picture next will be 
When the new day's here, and so 
All the pictures come and go. 



I'm January 

I'M January bringing you 
A year of days — all brand, brand new; 
I step upon the frosty ground. 
When chimes and sleighbells ring around; 
You welcome me and children sing. 
And joy comes into everything. 
I bring you love and lots of cheer. 
And work and friends for all the year. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Little Nem Year's 
Come to Stay 

^^^x HE little new year's come to stay, 
%^ V To be our guest for many a day; 
O let us keep the new year new 
By being earnest, brave, and true. 
And doing kind things all year through- 
So only, can the little year 
Stay new and bright and full of cheer. 

Twelve Months in a Row 



C5 



WELVE months in a row, 
Use them well and let them go; 
Welcome them without a fear. 
Let them go without a tear — 
Twelve months in a year; 
Greet the passing miracle. 
Spring and summer beautiful. 
Autumn, winter, gliding on. 
Glorious seasons quickly gone — • 
God's treasures in a row. 
Take them, love them, let them go I 



6 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

This Is Godfs Day 

CHIS is God's day that he lent to me 
S That I may use for good or ill; 
Fair and fresh as a day can be 
This is God's day that he lent to me. 
He took a wave from eternity's sea — 
Fashioned a day all blemish-free; 
This is God's day that he lent to me. 
That I may use for good or ill. 

Eax^li New Little Day Slips 
Out of My Hand 

ACH new little day slips out of my 
hand, 
And then with another new day I stand; 
But soon that is gone and folded away — 
I wish I might keep forever one day! 
I wish that one good day might always stay. 
For the good days hurry on so fast. 
Only the bad days seem to last ; 
But soon the worst of days is past; 
And now within my room I stand 
With a new little day within my hand. 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



To-day 



<3 



b-MORROW, what does it matter? 
To-day — that is here! 
To lend or to spend for my purpose — 
All without hindrance or tear. 
To-day only matters — to-morrow's 
A dream and a fear I 

To-morrow, I never shall own it — 

To-day — that is mine ! 
What if I take it and make it 

To something divine! 

So shall I never fear sorrow. 
Dear Time, if you go soon or stay. 

So shall I fear no to-morrow 
And gratefully live each to-day! 

O Sea with Good Arms 

OSEA with good arms, loving and 
strong. 
Folding the dear lands all the year long. 
Holding quite gently the mountain and tree. 
And the birds that build nests, and the chil- 
dren like me. 



8 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

I Marred a Day 

I MARRED a day, a shining day, 
(God lent it clean and bright) ; 
I sent it lusterless away, 

I dimmed its gracious light; 
And God I know was sorrowing 
For that poor soiled and tarnished thing. 

In everlasting tenderness 

Another day of light 
God sent; each hour I strove to bless, 

I kept it clean and bright; 
And God was glad — it shone away 
The meanness of my other day. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 9 



The Song-Shop 



©INK, tink, tink, 
Hear the pretty pieces clink. 
How the busy worker sings 
As his tiny hammer rings. 

Little songs are fashioned so, 
Placed all sweetly in a row. 
Stars and colored bits of glass. 
Look in, children, as you pass; 
See, the songsmith's happy things, 
Bells, and laughs, and fairy wings; 
Silver-dreams and dreams of gold — 
KSongsmith, are you really old? — 
Making pretty songs all day — 
Are you really old and gray?) 
Tink, tink, tink, 
We can hear the chink; 
Pretty songs are fashioned so, 
Placed all sweetly in a row. 
See the songsmith's happy things — 
Bells and laughs and fairy wings, 
Stars, and all-assorted things. 



10 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



If It Were January 
All the Year 

IF it were January all the year, 
I wonder if I'd like it here, 
Finding every place I go — 
Snow, snow, always snow! 

Snow upon the lane and street. 
Snow wherever children meet, 
And the houses made of snow. 
And the school where children go. 

Do you think I'd grow to be 
A child quite different from me, 
Who'd never seen a thing but snow? 
Would I be an Eskimo? 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 11 



It Isn't Only Flakes That Fall 

IT isn't only flakes that fall 
On the street and roof and all, 
All the day and evening hours, 
But white and shining stars and flowers. 

A million, million tiny stars. 
Dropping from the cloudy bars. 
Falling softly all around. 
On my sleeve and on the ground. 

A million, million flowers white. 
Falling softly day and night — 
But not a leaf or stem at all — 
It isn't only flakes that fall. 



12 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 




For a Child's Booh 

Y book is such a dainty thing — 
Its pretty pages fluttering 
Are wings of white — my book would fly 
Out through the window, past the sky. 

But, little book, don't fly away, 
I'll keep you carefully each day; 
And every night upon my shelf 
You'll have a nest all to yourself. 



Who Would Tear a Page 

^■^HO would tear a page 
yl/ From out a pretty book 
May make another sorry 
If he should care to look. 

A garden bed dug up, 

A house robbed and forlorn. 

Is not a sorrier sight 

Than a child's book rudely torn. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 13 



Good-Mormng, Sun 



& 



OOD-MORNING, Sun, 

Work's begun 
For every one; 
While you stay 
And make our day 
Let me be as true 
And good as you. 

So, 

When you go 

Out to the West 

I shall be glad for rest 

And glad for the day 

That went away. 

Good-morning, Sun, 

Work's begun. 

And play — 

Thank you for the day! 



14 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Each Dawn 



e 



ACH dawn before my eyes I see 
A shining new day spread for me; 

All trace of worn-out yesterday 

The winds of night have washed away. 

O let me use God's hand-work well — 

His glorious daily miracle! 




The Wires Are So Still 
and High 

^HE wires are so still and high 
e never hear the words go by. 
Yet messages fly far and near — 
I wonder if the birds can hear. 

And when they perch on wires and sing, 
I wonder are they listening, 
And telling out to earth and sky 
A lovely word is going by ! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 15 

If Love Were Mine 

IF love were mine, if love were mine, 
I know what I would do, 
I'd take it, spare it. 
Give it, share it. 
Lend it, spend it, too. 

If beauty I could claim for mine. 
To hold, to cherish, too, 

I'd strive to spread it. 

Pour it, shed it, 
Till it flowed the whole world through. 

But toil — just common toil — is mine; 
And so what I shall do 

Is strive to take it, 

Carve it, make it, 
Into love and beauty, too. 



16 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Family Cares 

I HAVE but one child — Cora Ann, 
Yet she is such a load of care, 
I wonder how Mathilda Jones 

Can manage with her family there; 
Matilda lives across the street, 

And, counting teddy-bears, and all, 
And darky dolls, and little Japs, 

Her family's twelve — and that's not 
small; 
It must be hard to keep in shoes 

A family of so great a size ; 
My Cora Ann so careless is 

That sorely she my patience tries : 
If Tilda's children are like her. 

How can she ever manage so. 
When times are hard, and prices high — 

That, really, I should like to know. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 17 



The Little Window 

GHE little window's open wide 
All day to let the sun inside. 
But when the dark comes, turn about, 
It lets its own warm shining out. 



The Little Plant on the 
Window Speaks 

IF you had let me stay all winter long 
outside, 
Long, long ago, I should have died. 
And so I'll live for you and keep 
A little summer while the others sleep — 
A little summer on your window-sill — 
I'll be your growing garden spot until 
The rough winds go away, 
And great big gardens call you out to play. 



18 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Indian Children 

^ ■ ^HERE we walk to school each day 
Yl^Indian children used to play — 
All about our native land, 
[Where the shops and houses stand. 

And the trees were very tall, 
And there were no streets at all. 
Not a church and not a steeple — 
Only woods and Indian people. 

Only wigwams on the ground, 
And at night bears prowling round — 
What a different place to-day 
Where we live and work and play ! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 19 



Fierce Parents 

IF your parent should be dressed in 
paint and fierce array, 
Perhaps you'd think you'd be afraid and 

run and hide away; 
But the Indian child at home who sees his 

father so, 
Doesn't mind the paint and things, but 

laughs to see him go 
Out to the woods to hunt; and the father 

waves his hand 
And laughs back as all fathers do in every 

kind of land. 



The Scholar 

^T^HEN I was ignorant and small 
f I 1 I used to have great fun all day, 
But now that I am wise and tall 

I must pretend I never play; 
And so whenever people look 
I keep my eyes tight on my book. 



20 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



My Book Holds Many Stones 



ffi 



Y book holds many stories, wrapped 
tightly in itself. 
And yet it never makes a noise but waits 

upon my shelf 
Until I come and take it ; then soon my book 

and I 
Are sailing on a fairy sea or floating in the 

sky. 



A Wish Is Quite a Tiny Thing 

WISH is quite a tiny thing 
Just like a bird upon the wing, 
It flies away all fancy free 
And lights upon a house or tree; 
It flies across the farthest air, 
And builds a safe nest anywhere. 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 21 



God's House Has a Ceiling 



e 



OD'S house has a ceiling that's curved 
and far and high 
And beaut'iful and soft and blue — God's 
ceiling is the sky. 



And from God's ceiling hang rare lamps all 
radiant with light. 

One great big sun for all the day, and a mil- 
lion stars for night. 



Letters Are Small Angevs 

nETTERS are small angels flying in 
between 
All the houses of the town, red, and gray, 

and green; 
And the postman helps them, shows them 

just the way. 
As he walks along the street smiling all the 

day. 
Take the letters gladly — ^with their white, 

white wings. 
Blessed little angels, telling happy things! 



22 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

"Guck-Acht'Cher* 

"fc^AVE you a letter for me?" I called to 
M r the postman going by; 
"Guek-Acht-ehe?" called the Alaskan child, 

but she meant the same as I, 
And she took the letter and hurried away. 
The very same way that I did to-day. 
The words that were in it were strange, no 

doubt. 
But I'm sure that her father could puzzle 

them out. 
For the words that to you are quite curious, 

you see. 
To him are as plain as plain can be. 

* Guk-ak-che? — Have you a letter? 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 23 

The Happy Little Clock 

IN my garret room, I'm never quite 
alone, 
I have a small companion all my own, 
A cunning round-faced merry little elf. 
My little China clock upon the shelf. 
It's tick, tick, ticking all the day. 
How I love its cheery steady little way, 
It keeps my garret room 
Free from sprites of fear and gloom. 
The happy little clock upon the shelf. 

It calls me every morning to my work. 
In rain or shine it never tries to shirk; 
The cozy little, honest little elf, 
The busy little clock upon the shelf; 

it's tick, tick, ticking day and night. 

It ticks its "honest best" with all its might; 

1 shall never lack a friend 
When my daytime labors end 

With my little China clock upon the shelf. 



24 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Days 



& 



VERY sort of day together, 

Makes a year of every weather. 
Rainy days and clear days, warm days and 

cool, 
Holidays, vacation days and days to go to 

school. 
Winter days and summer days and days of 

spring and fall. 
To make the calendar, my dear, w^e have to 

take them all ; 
Here's a pretty day for trying, here's a 

rainy day for working. 
But I cannot find a single day in all the year 

for shirking. 
There are days when we are very glad, 
And days when we are still and sad ; 
But on all days, I find it good 
To do to others as I would 
Be done by — that's the way 
To keep each passing day 
And so spend happy times together 
In sunny or in windy weather. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 25 



The Rhinoceros 

CHE rhinoceros walks around, he's large 
but makes less noise 
And does less damage I am sure than cer- 
tain girls and boys. 

The Elephant 

CHE elephant is very large 
And clumsy as a wooden barge. 
With legs Hke tree-trunks, yet he's mild 
And gentle as a little child. 

The elephant walks far away 

And sees strange children in their play, 

And carries logs and iron bars 

As easily as motor-cars. 

The elephant's a great big beast — 
Not beautiftil, but good, at least. 
Strong as a tree, but withal mild 
And gentle as a httle child. 



26 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

O Little Road 

O LITTLE road, where do you go? 
I saw you start a while below, 
And then you climbed the woody hill ; 
It almost seemed you'd reach the sky, 
While down below so patient, I 
Am standing, waiting for you still. 

Will you sometime turn round and then 

Hurry back to home again? 

Or will you always want to stray 

To richer lands far, far away — 

And never once look back to see 

This little house and waiting me? 

Song of Our Land 

OUNTAINLAND, fountainland, 
shoreland and sea, 
God's land thou art surely — His gift to the 

free ; 
How blest are thy children wherever they 

roam 
To claim thee their country, their hope, and 

their home. 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 27 

I love thee, my country, O great be thy 

fame; 
I love thy dear banner — I honor thy name; 
111 live for thee, die for thee, serve no land 

but thee — 
My country forever, great land of the free! 



Booh, Booh 



© 



OOK, book, I have found 
'Earth, sea, air within you bound; 
I have talked with saints and sages. 
In your clear cool shining pages ; 
I have searched the skies with you. 
Traced the planets through and through; 
You have been my comrade brave 
Or my willing, waiting slave. 

Book, book, I have found. 
Earth, sea, air, within you bound; 
Through your clear cool shining pages 
I have walked with saints and sages. 



28 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Poor Trees Stand 
and Shiver So 

i^^CHE poor trees stand and shiver so, 
^^^/Like ragged beggars in a row. 
Without a cloak in frost and snow. 

I think it's strange about the trees — 
In summer when there's little breeze 
They all dress up rich as you please. 

No beggars then, but fine and grand 
Like Princes of a mighty land 
Across the world in rows they stand. 

But now in cold they shiver so 
Like ragged beggars in a row — 
Without a cloak in wind and snow. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 29 

Little Maid of Far Japan 

nITTLE maid upon my fan 
Did you come from far Japan? 
What a tiny oval face! 
Do you like this other place? 

Do you miss the cherry trees 
Where you knew the little breeze. 
Where you heard the cuckoo sing 
In the spring? 

Then you crossed your lattice floor, 
Flung aside your paper door, 
Joined the other maids at play, 
Far away. 

Now you live upon my fan. 
Little maid of far Japan, 
Still, you have a merry face — 
Do you like this other place? 



30 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Mighty Things 

IRON, steel, and granite rock are 
mighty things, I deem. 
But the strongest thing in all the world is 

just a dream; 
Dreams built a house, and built a bridge, a 

ship to go afar, 
And God's dream made the earth and us and 
every rolling star. 

The Little New Pupil 

BRAND new pupil came to school. 
His eyes — how quick and bright 1 — 
I wonder, will he learn each rule — 
And learn to read and write? 

I hope he'll always wipe his feet 

On coming up the stair, 
And keep his face and garments neat. 

And brush his teeth and hair. 

A brand new pupil came to school, 

I fear he came to play — 
I fear he'll never keep the rule — 

He's but a kitten gray. 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 31 

Little Tiger Cat 

nITTLE Tiger Cat, with the spotted 
face, 
Do you think youVe found a baby-jungle- 

place? 
Going through the grass, stealthily and slow, 
Are you waiting to jump out and scare the 

folks you know? 
And send them running to the house as fast 
as they can go? 

Little Tiger Cat, it's no use at all, 

No matter what you think yourself, you're 

rather tame and small. 
And with all your hiding and your stern 

contemplation, 
You cannot scare a single one of high or 

lowly station, 
And so, there's no use trying to be like your 

wild relation. 



32 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Where Do Thoughts Come From? 

^^^^HE minute I'm awake in bed 
^^^^A hundred thoughts pop in my head. 

Before I've had the time to dress 

A hundred more — 

They wait all night for me, I guess. 

But where they go 

I do not know, 

Or where they're from ; 

I know just this — they always come; 

And even grown-up people say 

To find this out there is no way. 

Some thoughts are very light and small, 
And some are brave and strong and tall. 
And some are bright and pretty, too; 
And some are loving, good, and true. 

The strangest thing it is, I find, 
I'm like the thoughts inside my mind, 
So thoughts, keep coming all day, do^ — 
Especially the good and true! 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 33 

The Sunshine Has 
a Pleasant Way 

HE sunshine has a pleasant way 
Of shining on us all the day, 
It makes the little window bright, 
And fills the room with pretty light. 

It goes into the garden bed. 
And shines on every flower head ; 
It warms each leaf and bud and seed 
Till all the world is glad, indeed. 

It creeps into the children's faces 
And climbs into the highest places. 
It makes me want to work and sing 
And do my best in everything. 

I'm glad the sunshine comes each day 
To help me work and laugh and play ; 
To keep the little window bright 
And fill the room with pretty light. 



Stbxmty 



LINCOLN'S DAY 
ST. VALENTINE'S 
WASHINGTON'S DAY 
CHILDREN 
FLAGS 

AND 

OTHER 

HAPPY 

THINGS 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 37 



Tm Not Just February 

I'M not just February 
With winds that blow 
All day, and piled-up snow; 
I'm Washington and Lincoln, too, 
Who kept our country's flag for you! 
I'm Valentine of airy grace — 
With golden hearts and hearts of lace 
And pretty cards that people send, 
Quite as a secret, to a friend. 
Though I am short of days and small, 
I'm quite a big month, after all! 



88 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Leap Year 

HITTLE month of February, 
You are small, but worthy — ^very! 
Will you grow up like the others, 
Like your sister months and brothers? 
Every four years with a bound 
With a leap up from the ground. 
Trying to grow tall as they — 
All you stretch is one small day! 
Even then you're not so tall 
But just the shortest month of all. 

A Little Boy and 
a Cherry Tree 

LITTLE boy and a cherry tree, 
A strong young man who proved to be 
A worker with his brain and hand, 
A soldier for his well-loved land, 
A statesman answering the call 
Of home and country, over all, 
A glorious patriot, noble son, 
A soldier — President — a man! 
Was Washington! 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 39 



Washington 



EIRST of our great, we bring 
New tributes to your name, and sing 
Songs of remembrance on your day; 
Years cannot ever wear away 
Our thanks to you, nor render less 
Our debt for your great worthiness. 



Lincoln 




LOG cabin, rude and rough — 
This was house and home enough 
For one small boy; there in the chimney 

place 
With glowing face 
The eager young eyes learned to trace 
Staunch old tales of staunch old men; 
In the firelight there and then 
The soul of Lincoln grew — 
And no one knew! 
Only the great and bitter strife 
Of later days brought into life 
Great deeds that blossomed in the gloom 
Of that dim shadowy firelit room. 



40 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Greeting 




WEET as the summer breeze 
Bright as the summer sea. 
Pure as the breath of flowers 
Is the wish I wish to thee; 
High as the heaven's blue arch, 
Staunch as the woodland tree, 
Sure as the spring time's coming, 
Is the love I bear to thee. 



Hearts Were Made 
to Give Away 

^^^■^E ART S were made to give away 
JL.FOn Valentine's good day; 
Wrap them up in dainty white, 
Send them off the thirteenth night. 
Any kind of heart that's handy — 
Hearts of lace, and hearts of candy. 
Hearts all trimmed with ribbands fine 
Send for good St. Valentine. 
Hearts were made to give away 
On Valentine's dear day. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 41 



Winter 

ir^INTER is the flower's pause, 
vj|yA pause for breath to begin again, 
Winter for a little while — 
Only to make spring better. 
Only to make spring surer, 
Then, O, for the rapture again — 
Buds and life running over ! 



Great Washington 



e 



REAT Washington, 

0, to be a worthy son 
To you, to hear the clarion call 
Of home and country over all. 
And to answer it like you, 
Standing firm and staunch and true, 
Head erect, and facing foe. 
Strong in weal and strong in woe. 
In my country's need; 
O, to be indeed 
A worthy son 
To you, great Washington! 



42 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



It Must Have Been 
Quite Queer 

IT must have been quite queer, 
To live long, long ago. 
And yet the people never thought it so, 
Because they knew no other way. My 
Dear. 

We see autos on the street 

Every day, and never think it any treat. 

And any day up in the sky 

An airplane may go sailing by ; 

And trolley cars and railroads, too, 

To us are quite a common view; 

But Washington when he was small 

Never saw such things at all, 

Never saw the things that we 

Look upon quite carelessly. 



FOR DAYS AND DxlYS 43 



The Land of School 

CHE Land of School has desks and 
books. 
But has no fences, hills, and brooks; 
The children live there every day 
Even when they'd rather play; 
But the teacher, quite content. 
Is the king or president. 

When Our Land Was New 
{To Washington) 



® 



HEN our land was new 
And all untried 
It was you 

Who proved the guide — 
Proved her guide to lead her so 
She could live and grow. 

When our land was new 

And weak and small, 
It was you 

Who taught her all — 
For your vision clear as sun. 
Thank you, Washington! 



44 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Postman 

CHE postman goes along the street 
With smiling face and busy feet; 
I'm sure all people love him for 
His cheery whistle at the door. 
And when I hear him come, I al- 
Most fly down stairs through room and 

hall; 
I love the postman better far 
Than men who richer, wiser are. 

Books Never Tell 






OOKS never tell 

WTiether George Washington liked to 
spell 
Or not, or read his reader well. 
Or did his homework every day — 
The very way 
The teacher tells us to; 
I wonder if he liked to do 
The hundred things they say we should, 
And did they always mark him "good" 
Upon the card they gave at school? 
I guess he never broke a rule 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 45 



Or history would tell us so, 
For every boy would like to know 
About the boy that came to be the grand 
Great father of our native land. 

I find no matter how I try 

Just this — "he never told a lie." 

It does not say he always wore a tie, 

And came to school with jacket neat. 

And sat up straight upon his seat, 

And never gave a roguish look 

But kept his eyes upon his book; 

So it's plain as nose and chin 

The perfect boy he must have been! 



Man and Dog and 
Horse and Tree 

AN and dog and horse and tree. 
Ail are valued friends to me ; 
Who loves one and leaves the rest 
Hardly chooses for the best; 
I choose all — so let me be 
Friend to man, dog, horse and tree. 




46 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Outside the Door 

OUTSIDE the door the bare tree 
stands, 
And catches snowflakes in its hands, 
And holds them well and holds them high, 
Until a puffing wind comes by. 

Where Is Our Flag's Home? 

HERE is our flag's home? Where, 
soldier brave? 
It's up where the cannon roar — it's out on 

the wave! 
There is our flag's home, bright as the sun — 
Bright when the battle breaks, bright when 

it's won! 
Where is our flag's home? Eastland or 

West? 
Southland or Northland, — Flag, which is 

best? 
Here is our flag's home, and there in the 

sky- 
It's our flag — it's God's flag — Boys, keep it 

high! 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 47 



Books Are Soldiers 



© 



00 KS are soldiers gaily dressed, 
standing grave and tall, 
Like a halting regiment close against the 

wall; 
They have marched through many lands, 

over meadows green, 
Cities great and monuments and rivers they 

have seen; 
All year long they wait to tell you wondrous 

things they know 
If you'll only listen; — Soldiers in a row, 
Tell me what you have to tell. 
Of the things you know so well; 
Tell me, soldiers, gaily dressed, standing 

grave and tall, 
Like a halting regiment, close against the 

wall. 



48 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Water Falls 
Upon the Ground 



G 



HE water falls upon the ground 
And sticks there though the earth is 
round ! 



The Pleasant Dark 

CHE pleasant dark that comes at night 
Is just as friendly as the light, 
Dark wraps a curtain over all — 
The trees, the houses, far and tall; 
The pleasant dark comes down to bless 
The world with mother-tenderness. 
She folds her children in her arms 
And keeps them safe from loud alarms; 
The far green hills where children play 
Are hidden till the brand-new day. 
For hills and eyelids know what's best — 
That darkness-time is time for rest. 
The pleasant dark that comes at night 
Is just as friendly as the light. 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 49 



A Letter Is a Gypsy Elf 

LETTER is a gypsy elf 
It goes where I would go myself; 
East or West or North, it goes, 
Or South past pretty bungalows. 
Over mountain, over hill, 
Any place it must and will, 
It finds good friends that live so far 
You cannot travel where they are. 

High and Mighty 

nCGH and mighty pole, you stand. 
Holding wires in your hand. 
Wires crossing to and fro, 
I should tire standing so. 

I should tire pointing far 

To one little speck of star, 

I should tire holding so 

All the words I could not know. 

I should want to stoop some day. 
And drop my hands and go to play ; 
But straight and black across the land 
High and mighty pole, you stand. 




50 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Friendly Little Wishes 

Y friendly little wishes fly 
Out of the window through the 
sky, 
They tangle up the wireless. 
And mix the messages, I guess. 



The Children Clap 
Their Hands 

CHE children clap their hands in glee, 
A lovely brand new star they see; 
A little star calls through the skies, 
"I spy a brand new baby's eyes!" 



My Candle Most 
Absurdly Small 

Y candle most absurdly small. 
The high star never sees at all. 
But when the room is dark at night 
The little candle makes it bright. 
And so I love its friendly light. 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 51 



The Foreign Children 
Never Know 

CHE foreign children never know 
How very strange they are; and so 
They go all unconcerned about, 
And think 'tis we are queer, no doubt. 
They walk around all foreign places 
And think 'tis we have curious faces. 

The Telegraph 

CHE wires spread out far and wide, 
And cross the town and countryside, 
They cross through deserts and through 

snows, 
And pass the spots where no one goes. 

But though no feet go out that way 
A million words go every day ; 
Along the wires everywhere 
A million words flash through the air. 

And if we're happy, if we're well, 
The wires far away can tell. 
The little words can cross all space 
And talk to friends in any place. 



52 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

I Know a Man 

I KNOW a man who thinks he's poor, 
But he is rich indeed, 
He has a chair, a friend who's sure, 
And three good books to read! 

My Book 

LITTLE gate my book can be 
That leads to fields of minstrelsy, 

And though you think I sit at home 

Afar in foreign fields I roam. 

Geography Journeys 




m 



E do not take a car at all, and yet we 
traveling go. 

In every kind of foreign land, through des- 
ert and through snow ; 

The queerest kind of children we meet along 
the way. 

But we are busy studying — we cannot stop 
for play. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 53 

We do not take a ship at all, and yet we sail 

the seas, 
The North and South and East and West, 

in every sort of breeze. 
Our journeying is very swift, we must be 

back to-day, 
We came out here to study, so we cannot 

stop for play. 

We do not take an air ship to go into the sky, 
And yet we visit in the air and watch the 

moon go by. 
The sky is very pretty but we haven't time 

to stay. 
We're studying this all in a book — it isn't 

only play. 

Safe in our seats with book in hand, 
We travel swiftly through the land. 
We sail the sea and sky and all. 
And never fear to sink or fall. 
We make far journeys every day. 
But never stay abroad to play. 



54 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Some Curious Folks 

OME curious folks I've lately found, 
Who keep on looking at the ground ; 
They crawl along — I wonder why. 
And never once have seen the sky! 




A Busy Street 




LL up and down the busy street 
The people pass with eager feet — 
They must have pleasant things to do 
They hurry so the long day through. 

All day long they pass me by; 
They must have better things than I 
At home or where they want to go — 
And that is why they hurry so. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 55 



The House Cat 



© 



HE house cat sits and smiles and sings, 
He knows a lot of secret things 1 



My Window Looks 
Upon the Sky 



ffi 



Y window looks upon the sky, 
My garret room is built so high, 
I leave below the busy street 
Each night, and climb with eager feet 
Till all the noisy world grows far 
And my next neighbor is a star. 

Dear little neighbor star, to-night 

I'll greet your little kindly light. 

Though clouds should come and hide your 

face, 
I always know that from your place. 
Dear neighbor star, you still can spy 
My window looking at the sky. 



56 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Stars Are Blinking 

^^^nHE stars are blinking in the skies; 

^^^VThey see some sights that hurt their 
eyes; 
And sometimes they are very sad — 
O let's be good and make them glad! 



The Dark 



o 



HE dark's a curtain black and tall 
That covers up the trees and all; 

The dark's a curtain black and wide 

That covers up the world outside; 

But in the room the lamp's good light 

Keeps the darkness out of sight. 

Until we eat our milk and bread, 

And play a bit and go to bed; 

And then the curtain black and tall 

Covers up the room and all ; 

And then the curtain black and wide 

Covers up the world inside. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 57 

To an Old Tree 

©HE tree must stand, it cannot run; 
Whatever comes of snow or sun 
It has to bear; it has no fears; 
Knowing not regret nor tears 
It stands and stretches to the sky 
Without a murmur, plaint or sigh — 
And this has stood a thousand years, 
And seen ten thousand storms go by! 

hands and Oceans 

nANDS and oceans all are curled 
Tight around the world, 
And the earth is like a ball. 
Houses, people, trees and all. 

Round and round the big ball goes ; 
When we're up or down — who knows ! — 
Should I jump up very high 
I'd fall, perhaps, into the sky. 

Lands and oceans all are curled 
Tight around the world. 
And the world is like a ball. 
Houses, people, trees and all. 




58 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

A Sailor Bold 

OMETIMES I think I'd like to roam, 
A sailor bold across the sea, 
But how could Mother stay at home 
And be so very far from me ? 

For who would sing my sleepy song, 
And tuck me in my sailor bed. 

And say God watches all night long, 

And kiss me when my prayers are said? 

I wonder if the sailor lad 

Is very, very lonely when 
The loud wind blows ; and is he sad. 

And does he long for home again? 

So, after all, I would not roam. 

Until I'm eight to seas afar, 
While I am seven I'll stay at home 

Where Mother and her kisses are. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 59 



When a Boy Plays 
in the Yard 



® 



HEN a boy plays in the yard 
He can call and shout quite hard 
And make a lot of noise 
With the other boys; 
But when he goes inside the house. 
He must walk j ust like a mouse, 
His manners strictly heeding 
For fear some folks are reading. 



Mm^ 



ST. PATRICK'S DAY 

WINDS 

SNOW 

POETS 

AND 

THINGS 
OF 

LAND 

AND 

SEA 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 63 



March, March 




ARCH, March, all the day. 

Winds of March, please march away; 

March away with noisy drum 

For the flowers want to come; 

March away through every street, 

Noisy tramp of noisy feet. 

Noisy music all the way — 

March, March, March away! 

March, March, never still, 
March away from lane and hill, 
March away from nook and glen, 
April wants to come again; 
March away with tramp and roar, 
April waits outside the door; 
Flowers and children want to play — 
March, March, March away! 



64 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Never Mind, March 

QEVER mind, March, we know 
When you blow 
You're not really mad 
Or angry or bad; 

You're only blowing the winter away 
To get the world ready for April and May. 



Jack Frost in March 



n 



OW changeable the children grow, 
All winter long they liked the snow. 
But now they're begging me to go. 



November when the wind was shrill 
They cried me welcome with a will, 
But now they're begging me be still. 

They're begging me to hurry by, 

"Jack Frost, Jack Frost, please go," they 

cry, 
"And let dear spring come to the sky!" 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 65 



March 




ARCH is windy, March is wild. 
Hurries like an eager child; 

Puffing mouth and ruddy face. 

Rushing in a windy race; 

A breath or two he stops, and then 

He's puffing madly off again. 

March is windy, March is wild, 
A rushing, blowing, puffing child. 
And why does March go rushing so? 
He's trying to catch spring, you know. 



Every One Knows 
March's Way 



e 



VERY one knows March's way. 
Rushing, blowing, night and day. 
Rushing, blowing, day and night, 
Not a single flower in sight. 
Not a bud upon a tree. 
But wait until the end and see 
When March is packed at last to go, 
Every twig will start to grow — 
All in a trice, before you know. 



66 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



There's so Much in the 
World to Play 



G 



HERE'S so much in the world to play, 
One cannot finish in a day ! 



St, Patrick's Day 

IT seems to me St. Patrick's Day 
By every rule should come in May 
Instead of when the March winds blow 
And buds still sleep beneath the snow; 
For then the fields would all be seen 
A-wearing of the emerald green 
Just like the flag so green and gay 
They carry on St. Patrick's Day; 
And all the night the wind would play 

Soft Irish croonings through the trees, 
Like some sad harp that far away 

Sighs in that isle beyond the seas; 
And so it seems St. Patrick's Day 
By every rule should come in May 
Instead of when the March winds blow, 
And blossoms sleep beneath the snow. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 67 



v 



Before the Foimtains Flow 



© 



EFORE the fountains flow, 
And flowers start to grow, 
Spring must come inside the heart, you 
know ! 



Before the blue birds sing, 

And streamlets sparkle, spring 

First must wake the heart of everything! 

The Wind]/ Day 



G 



HE wind was very bad that day, 
It blew my brand new hat away. 

It blew and blew and blew — 

It should have found some better things to 
do. 



Perhaps the sailor on the sea 

Wanted that wind that pestered me. 

But the wind just stayed around and blew 

My things about. When he was through 

He went and hid himself away 

And never came again that day. 




68 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

My Land Is God's Land 

Y land is God's land — ^mountains, rivers 
wide ; 
God built it, blest it, gave it, to be the whole 

earth's pride. 
With lofty silent places and prairies for the 

free — 
My land is God's land that goes from sea 

to sea. 

My flag is God's flag and God will see it 

through. 
It shines on sea and mountain, the Red, 

White, and Blue — 
It has no need of terror, it lives close to the 

sky— 
My flag is God's flag and He will keep it 

high ! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 69 



The Small Clouds 
Nestled in the Sky 




HE small clouds nestled in the sky 

And hid the sun; 
But soon the blustering wind rushed by, 
And chased them every one, 
And swept the sky so neat and clean 
That not a single speck was seen. 



The Winds of March 

CHE winds of March are wild and 
strong. 
They howl and whistle all day long; 
They pull the hats from tall men's heads 
And frighten children in their beds. 

They brush the trees, they sweep the 

ground, 
I'm glad no seedhngs can be found. 
For March would hurt each leaf and stem — 
But April-time was made for them! 



70 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

End of March 

^T^HAT does the white world know 
yM/Of flowers eager to grow 

Under the snow? 

Do the brown limbs care 

As they swing in the crisp clear air? 

But O, little seed, you know. 

Lying patiently so — 

Head underground, 

Only wait — the call will go round. 

You'll know the sound. 

And O, the snow must go, 

For you, little seed, are waiting to growl 

O, the joy to lift the head 

Straight above the dark brown bed, 

O, the joy to feel the tread 

Of spring with skipping bare brave feet, 

Down the warm, wet village street. 

Ah, then the brown branches care 
And try to touch her hair ; 
Streaming out in the new warm air, 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 71 

And O, the sky is glad, and every brook and 

glen 
For then, 
The world begins all over again! 



The March Wind Comes 



c 



HE March wind comes with mighty 
sound, 

The trees bend over to the ground ; 
"O hold us tight. Dear Ground," they cry; 
"The wild March wind is riding by." 



"Bend near, bend near, Tree-Children Dear, 

But never let the March wind hear, 

O, I shall hold you firm and fast. 

And soon the bold wind will ride past." 



72 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

You Can Measure 
the Steeple 

OU can measure the steeple that's close 
to the sky, 

You can burrow to where the gold grains lie, 
But a little girl's wonder is very big — 
Too high to climb and too deep to dig. 

Clear Away 




a 



LEAR away, clear away," 

Cried the wind all the day, 
"I'm sweeping the sky, I'm sweeping the 

sea, 
I'm as busy as one can be." 



* 'Little cloud, clear away from the moon, 
I'm coming to sweep you far away soon, 
And where will you hide you. 
And where will you stay?" 
Only the mountain-top could say 
Where the little cloud hid away. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 73 

Tired of Snow 

^^^x HE world is tired of snow — 
^^^VTired of loud winds that blow 

All night long through brown bare trees — 
The world is tired! — so 
Give us back the birds and trees, 
The children want to play- 
Out in the sun all day — 
We welcomed you right well, O Snow — 
But now, at last, it's time to go — 
We want to hear the bluebird sing — 
We want to welcome Spring! 



Riches 



e 



LAD heart, clear brain, clean hands — 
All these are better far than castle- 
lands ; 
Good ears to hear, good eyes to see, 
Are riches quite enough for you and me. 

A place to sit, a book, a light, 
Are riches great enough a winter's night. 
And Mother setting things for tea — 
That's happiness enough for you and me. 



74 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Teacher Loves to 
Keep the Rule 



G 



HE teacher loves to keep the rule 
And loves to come each day to school, 

And she can never see 

How different are we! 



The Far North 



© 



HE Far North is a frozen land. 
Not a trace of tree or sand. 

Not a flower on the ground — 

Only ice and snow around. 



The Far North is a frozen place. 
Of gardens there is not a trace, 
But, no doubt, children living there. 
Think their home is good and fair. 

No doubt they can find their fun, 
Although there's very little sun. 
For children always find the way 
In any kind of land to play. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 75 



The Windows 



o 



HE windows are the houses' eyes 
That look out over fields and skies. 



Poets Have the 
Best of Times 

QOETS have the best of times, 
Sitting home and writing rimes, 
Thinking pretty thoughts all day — 
All their business is to play I 

Writing with a golden pen, 
And scented ink, the richest men 
Who have to work to earn their pay. 
Must envy them their fun all day. 

Poets have the best of times, 
Sitting home and writing rimes. 
All the pretty things they think 
With golden pen and scented ink. 



76 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Little Bird 
Upon the Tree 



G 



HE little bird upon the tree 
Knows more, far more, than you or me : 
And no wise man could teach him how 
To hang a nest safe from the bough. 
And no wise man need tell him when 
It's time to start down South again. 

'Pnd of Winter 

^ V^E welcome Jack Frost when he comes, 
yl^Jack Frost with windy drums. 
Jack Frost that comes to town 
With the snowflakes falling down. 

But at last it's time to go — 
Jack Frost with wind and snow, 
Hurry Jack Frost, hurry on, 
Windy days are nearly gone. 

Long ago we liked your play. 
Liked the noise of wind all day, 
But, Jack Frost, your playing' s done — 
Springtime's coming — run, Jack, run! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 77 

The Sea That Comes 
to Meet My Hand 

HE sea that comes to meet my hand 
Is rolling on some foreign land; 

And some small child in that far place 

Is looking out to see my face. 

And there he stands, and here stand I, 
I cannot see him, though I try; 
We look and look — it cannot be — 
Because the world humps up, you see. 




78 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

The Milky Way 



O 



NCE there was a little dream 
That mounted to the sky; 
It rode upon a water beam 

And climbed the star way high. 



But when it wanted to come home 

Along the silver track 
The lights had all gone out, and O I 

It never could get back. 

And you may look now any night, 

And see it if you will, 
A gauzy milky veil of light, 

That's hanging up there still. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 79 




Safe and Sound 

{A Little Action Song) 

AFE and sound in the ground, 
Little seeds are lying so — * 
Just like this — all in a row,* 
But when April dances round — 
Like this — with singing sound. 
And there's not a trace of snow 
Up they'll jump before we know — 
Like this — and start to grow.* 

All day long the small plants try 

This way — to reach the sky ; * 

Soon little flowers peep all about. 

And then when school at last is out 

The children gather in the sun 

And pick the flowers one by one — 

So, — and then comes snow ; * 

Once again all in a row 

Little seeds lie underground, 

While Mr. Rough Wind rides around. 

* With suitable motions. 



april 



MOTHERS 

EASTER 

SEEDS AND PLANTING 

RAIN 

CROCUSES 

PUSSY WILLOWS 

DANDELIONS 

AND 

ALL 

THE 

GLAD 

GROWING 
WORLD 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 83 




Calling the Roll 

PRIL calls, 

Through spring time halls, 
"Bluebird, crocus, violet. 
Do you forget 
To grow? To sing?" 
Soon they answer to the call, 
"Present early one and all," 
O the joy of spring! 

April Is a Baby 

PRIL is a baby — laughs and cries and 
plays; 
Has a thousand different moods through her 

thirty days; 
Golden-haired and blue-eyed — ^what has she 

to do 
But laugh and cry and bloom and grow her 

whole life through! 
April is a baby — growing with the flowers. 
Laughing, crying, laughing — so she spends 

the hours! 




84 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



When Parents Go 
Out Shopping 



m 



HEN parents go out shopping 
They buy bread, meat and shoes, 

And do not buy a single thing 

That any child would choose. 



Pretty Nearly Everybody 



Q 



RETTY nearly everybody has some 
fun each day, 
Yet I've never heard of mothers going out 
to play. 



Mother's Fingers 



ffi 



OTHER'S fingers fashion wonders, 
make a cake, or mend a tear, 
Cover books and help with numbers, doing 

hard things everywhere; 
Children read in fairy stories of the deeds of 

elf and gnome. 
And in looking at the pictures, quite forget 

things done at home. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 85 



When the Day Is Over 



il%HEN the day is over, Mother comes 
yl/ and says "good-night" 
Very low and then puts out the light; 
And God who sees the whole world go to 

sleep, 
Says softly to us all when shadows creep, 
"My tired children, now, good-night" — 
And then comes dark, for God puts out the 
light. 

Sleep Time 



W 



HEN day is over, Mother sings songs 

And each child climbs into the crib 
where he belongs. 
And says his prayers, and thinks of things he 

did all day. 
Whether at school or home or on the street 

at play. 
But he never quite gets through for his eyes 

shut tight 
And he doesn't even hear Mother putting 

out the light. 



86 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



One, Two, Winter's Through 



O 



NE, two, winter's through; 

Three, four, spring's at the door. 
Five, six, April's tricks. 
Seven, eight, bird and mate. 
Nine, ten, the world begins again! 



Mothers 




OST good things — especially cakes and 
toys, 

Don't go around among all the girls and 
boys. 

And some must go without; 

Some children have one good thing, some 
another — 

I know a child who has no little brother, 

But very fine it is that pretty nearly every- 
body has a mother — 

And that's the best of all, no doubt. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 87 

The Fairy School 

I THINK I know where the flowers go 
When winter days are chill, 
They go to school where the fairies rule 
Beneath the orchard hill. 

There safe and warm from the winter's 

storm 
Is their schoolhouse under the snow, 
Where the fairies teach in fairy speech 
The things a flower should know. 

They learn of the trees and the bumble bees. 
Of the cloud and the moon hung high ; 
Of brooks that gleam where poppies dream 
Of winds that go rushing by. 

Then when April calls through the fairy 

halls 
That winter-time is past. 
The flowers know just how to grow. 
And school is out at last ! 




88 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Suppose You Were a Little 
Seed Underground 

UPPOSE you were a little seed under- 
ground 
And you heard the sound 
Of spring around, 

Wouldn't you stretch and push and grow 
Till you moved the dull earth so, 
Till a shoot of green 
Above the mold was seen? 
Wouldn't you be glad to be there 
Out in the air? 
Wouldn't you be glad indeed 
To have changed so from a seed? 
AndO, 

Wouldn't it be fine to grow 
And bend and blow 
When the wind went by, 
And look up at the sky. 
And think how clear and blue 
It is; wouldn't you 
Just climb and climb, 
Higher, higher, all the time, 
Up, up, through the air 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 89 

To get up there, 

A little more away 

From earth each day; 

And as you grew 

Towards the blue, 

Suppose you thought such pretty things 

That straight your thought became white 

wings — 
A white, white flower outspread 
Above the earthy bed, 

Where you had lived the dark days through 
Before you grew; 

O wouldn't you be glad that summer hour 
To be that flower! 

April, the Magician 



B 



PRIL has a wand of gold. 
To touch the trees; and then 
They who were quite poor and old 
Grow young and rich again. 



When April changes hill and tree, 
The birds rush back to you. 

And grasses come again for me. 
And all the world grows new! 





90 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

The Roofs All Day 

HE roofs all day look at the sky, 
And greet each cloud that saunters by, 
They watch the sky grow deeper blue, 
And talk to stars the long night through. 

A Beggar Bird 

BEGGAR bird is pleading 
Out in the snow 
For crumbs — I must be heeding — 

I'm rich in crumbs, you know. 
And overhead 
I've roof; I've bread — 
And where can he go. 
The beggar bird, I pity so? 

A joyous bird is swinging 

Up in a tree; 
It's April — how he's singing — 

O, very rich is he ! 
He has a song 
For summer long 
And where can mine be? 
The joyous bird — ^he pities me! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 91 



The Teacher 



C 



HE teacher has quite curious ways — 
She does not like the hoHdays; 
She'd rather write with pen and ink 
Than dig up worms and fish, I think. 



Here's a Lazy Pussy 



ERE'S a lazy pussy with his coat still 



JLI °°' . . . 

Doesn't know the wintertime is over now and 



gone. 
All the other pussies stand in silver drest, 
Hurry up, O pussy willow, do as all the 

rest ; 
Little lazy pussy gray, 
Take your coat off right away — 
For warm spring is here to-day 1 



92 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



When the Bain Came Down 



m 



E watched the rain 

Through the window-pane 
Out on the dripping street, 
And we saw the hurrying feet 
Of the people who passed, 
"How long will you last, 
O Rain?" we cried; "it's mean to spoil our 

fun. 
Please get all your pouring done, 
And make way for the pleasant sun!" 

Eut still the rain came down 
Over hill and town. 

We played some games so it couldn't see 

How very sorry we could be 

Because the rain would fall — 

But that didn't scare the rain at all — 

A lot of indoor things we did. 

And far off from the window hid. 

But still the rain came down 
Over hill and town. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 93 

Then at last to our surprise 
Mamma proposed with glowing eyes 
That we should all at once go out 
Into that rain — there was a shout! — 
"Come, get your rain-coats all together, 
Well make the best of rainy weather — 
Without the sun 
We still can have a day of fun!" 

And still the rain came down 
Over hill and town. 

Then we walked briskly down the street, 

Wrapped up well from head to feet; 

That was the greatest fun that day, 

And now we wished the rain would stay 1 

But strange! before we were aware, 

A sudden light came to the air — 

The roguish rain had hurried by, 

At last the sun was in the sky! 

And everywhere the light poured down 

On hill and town. 

Home we trudged with boots together. 

We felt sure in every weather 

Be it rain or cloud or sun 

We could laugh and have our fun! 



94 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Little Seed Speaks 



X 



WONDER if the people know 
How hard it is to start to grow- 
It's easy once you've learned the wa}^ 
The fifth or sixth or seventh day! 




The Spring Race 

AID the wee yellow crocus with hurry- 
ing feet 
To the hurrying bluebird, "I'll beat, O I'll 

beat," 
But the bluebird called, "Why 
I'll be back in a jiffy through air and 

through sky; 
O there's no doubt I'll win, 
For I'm sure I'll be in 
At the very first bound ;" 
Then the crocus gave one good push from 

the ground, 
But what do you think? — at that very same 

minute — 
She saw a near tree with the puffing bird in 

itl 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 95 

They looked at each other and then at the 
sun, 

And then they both laughed — for it's 
strange I but both won! 

And quite out of breath they sat thinking 
together, 

How the old places looked and what beau- 
tiful weather I 



Good Morning, Day 



& 



OOD morning. Day, 

Whether cloud or sun, 
The world's begun 
Again for work and play. 



If I do my best, 
God will tend the rest — 
Working, loving, sharing all. 
Making you. Day, beautiful. 

Good morning, Day, 
The world's begun 
For every one 

For love and work and play! 



96 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Piping Robin 



fi 



IPING Robin, piping so, 

Tell the snow 
It's time to go ; 

Tell the rough winds not to blow 
Any more through field and glen ; 
Call the bluebirds home again. 
Tell the little flowers to grow, 
Piping Robin, piping so! 



Thoughts and Flowers 



c 



HOUGHTS grow like flowers over- 
night. 

Opening at morning light. 
Blossoming before you know — 
Children, let the good thoughts growl 



If a weedy thought should sprout 
In your garden, pull it out; 
But keep the good thoughts watered so 
They will always want to grow. 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 97 



Beginning to Grow 

FAIRY wakes and starts to sing, 
The grasses hear below, 

And every seed says: "Why, it's spring, 

I guess I'll have to grow!" 



ApriVs Shiny New 

PRIL'S shiny new 
Bird in gayest feather, 
Hills and sky of blue. 
This is April weather. 

April's rushing rain, 
On the peeping clover, 

On the window pane — 
Now the rain is over! 

April, this is you — 
Bird in gayest feather, 

Rain and sun and dew — 
Laughing-crying weather! 




98 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



In the Garden 

I WONDER if you know 
Where happinesses grow; 
I took a Httle spade and found 
The seeds of joy hide underground — 
I dug a bit, and moved a stone. 
Before I knew a joy had grown I 

The Flower Children 
Underground 

CHE flower children underground 
Were huddled waiting for the sound 
Above to tell that spring was here; 
Then suddenly one gave a cheer: 
"Hurrah, hurrah," in joy he cried; 
*'The little children play outside 
Across the meadows far and wide; 
The robin soon will see and sing — 
For children always know it's spring 
Before a single other thing! 
The children all are playing round; 
Come up, dear brothers, from the ground- 
And never have a bit of fear 
For spring is here, it's surely here!" 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 99 

An Orphan 

VERYTHING has sisters, brothers. 
Pussy willows, stars and others; 

Puppy dogs and kittens, too. 

Have "relations" — quite a few; 

But the moon that lives alone 

Has no family of her own. 

Has no sister and no brother, 

Has no aunt, and has no mother; 

And it lives up very high 

Like an orphan in the sky. 

I Shall Play a Little Song 
on My Pipe in the Spring 

I SHALL play a little song on my 
pipe in the spring. 
And all the children hearing it will come 

and sing; 
And all the little birds will gather from the 

sky; 
And great will be our piping though some 

may pass us by. 
Who do not know what spring is for, as we 

know — Pipe and I! 



100 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Pussy Willow Days 



© 



IRDS and pussies in a tree- 
Best of friends together, 
Swinging in the greatest glee 
In the shining weather. 



Here's the Seed^ 
First I Big 



n 



ERE'S the seed, first I dig- 
Little seed, when you are big, 

Will you think how long ago ~ 

I set you here to grow? 



Now you're planted, little seed, 
May you soon grow strong, indeed; 
May you love the earth and sky. 
And children passing by. 

And now, O tiny seed, farewell. 
Lie underground a little spell. 
When 3^ou're grown a great big tree. 
Where shall I be? 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 101 



Bairij Rain 



U 



AIN, rain, April rain, 
Washing tree and window pane, 

Tapping every spot of ground. 

Lest some sleepy seed be found; 

I can watch you and be gay 

Though I cannot go to play. 

Rain, rain, April rain. 

Washer of the hill and plain. 

Summer could not be so gay 

If it did not rain to-day, 

And it's fun to stay inside 

And see you falling far and wide. 

Spring 

CHE robin saw the new spring bonnet 
On a small maid's head. 
And called the seeds to look upon it. 

In the flower bed; 
Soon there was a growing sound. 
The flowers peeped up all around. 
And all the birds began to sing — 
And it was spring! 



102 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Spectators 

E watched the monkeys in the cage, 
All their scratching, fun, and fuss, 
We laughed at them ; with manners sage 
They turned and gravely laughed at us. 

What Does the Seed Wait 
for Undergroimd? 




(D 



HAT does the seed wait for under- 
ground? 
It waits for the tap of rain around ; 
And the sky says, "Go, 
Little clouds, the seeds want you below." 

And down the merry cloud comes. 
Like the tap of a million tiny drums. 
And the flowers say, 
"Little cloud, we'll come out to play." 

And out they come in a pretty row — 
Red, blue, yellow — and laugh and grow, 
And they play with the rain and shine in the 

sun, 
And grow and grow till the summer's done. 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 103 



Are You Frowning ^ 
April-Child, 

RE you frowning, April-child? 

Just a moment back you smiled! 
Now again your frowning's done 
When I thought you'd scarce begun. 

April, April, what a way — 

Laugh and weep and frown and play. 

So, you fill each flying day 

With changefulness 
And then comes May! 



The Grass Is Very 
Glad for Rain 



© 



HE grass is very glad for rain, 
And so, I think the window pane; 
Rain makes the window bright and clean, 
And paints the grass a sweeter green. 



And foolish children pout and frown, 
Just because the rain comes down; 
But wiser children bless the rain 
For washing grass and window pane. 



104. FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Spring Signs Out 

^^^v HE trees have hung their spring signs 
^^^ out. 

And Town Crier Robin is spreading about 
The news: "Spring is here I Spring is 

here!" 
Brush your house, mend your cheer, 
Clear away every old sigh and old tear; 
The signs are all out telling flower-time's 

near. 
The glad things are waking with work and 

with hum, 
For you, and for me, the new time has 

come — 
See on the trees how the spring signs are 

out; 
Hear Town Crier Robin who's spreading 

about 
The news: "Spring is here! Spring is 

herel" 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 105 

Work To Do 

^ ■ ^H AT busy times the world sees now, 
yl^With sprouting from each root and 
bough, 
Go frost, come rain, shine out, O sun. 
Or else the work will not be done. 
There's much to do, there's much to do. 
Before the springtime rush is through; 
The fountain must be started flowing. 
The little breeze must start its blowing. 
And every seed must start its growing, 
And you, O bird, your task in spring — 
Is just to sing! 

How warm the sun shines on the ground. 
There's not a lazy twig around ; 
Sing bird, sprout twig, climb up, O seed, 
Here's work, indeed, here's work, indeed; 
The fountains all are busy flowing; 
The softest little breeze is blowing; 
And every seed is striving, growing; 
And you, O bird, are helping spring 
Your way — you sing I 



106 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Dandelions in the Sim 



O 



ANDELIONS in the sun, 
Golden dollars every one, 
Let us pick them and go buy- 
All the sea and all the sky. 



Dandelions in the sun, 
Golden dollars every one^ — 
Who can be as rich as we 
Buying sky and hill and sea! 



The Curly White Cloud 
Loves the Sky 



© 



HE curly white cloud loves the sky; 

It stays up there — so high, so high. 
Until the earth sends up a call, 
'*I'm thirsty, cloud, O, fall, please fall!" 



The flower children all around 
Cry up: "Dear cloud, come to the ground," 
And so, the cloud says: "Good-by, Sky, 
I'll come again — so high, so high." 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 107 

Spring Came Walking 

PRING came walking through the 
grass ; 

I heard her happy footsteps pass; 
I went outside and took her hand. 
And followed her across the land. 
And everywhere we took our way, 
The flowers called a holiday. 

Lefs Take the Road 
and Follow April 



xt 



ET'S take the road and follow April; 

April's heart is wild with glee, 
April's lips were made for laughter. 
What though rain and tears come 
after — 
April calls and we are free! 

Let's take the road and follow April — 
Just a merry child is she — 

Where she treads green things start 

growing — 
April calls, we must be going — 
April calls and we are free ! 




108 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



March and April 
(For Two Children) 

TAY in, stay in, O flowers, stay in, 
Spring can't begin, it can't begin! 

For wild rough March rides all about, 

Don't put your little noses out; 

Small heads should keep safe under ground, 

Or March will catch you riding round. 

Come out, come out, O flowers, come out! 
Wild March is gone with rush and shout, 
And April's eager now to play, 
Come out, for March rode far away. 
And Spring is dancing all around! 
Come up, dear seeds, above the ground! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 109 

Little Bird, O Will You Be 
A Neighbor to Me? 

HITTLE Bird, O, will you be 
A neighbor to me? 
I shall do my very best 
To guard your nest. 
You may live safe overhead, 
Share with me my daily bread; 
Live at peace here in my tree, 
But, please. Bird, share your songs with me! 

The Beggar Trees 



c 



HE beggar trees stood wan and old; 
All winter long out in the cold 
They stretched their bony hands on high, 
Till all at once Magician Spring rode by; 
And with his magic wand touched one and 

all. 
Then every tree stood proud again and tall, 
With banners, trumpets, and glorious ar- 
ray— 
And thus were beggars turned to princes 
in a day ! 



110 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Crocuses, Crocuses, 
How You Grow 



G 



ROCUSES, crocuses, how you grow, 

Like a lot of soldiers in a straight row ; 
I would be your captain, give the command, 
But you only stare at me and stupidly stand, 
Helmeted in yellow and purple and reds; 
But for all your straight lines and soldierly 

heads. 
Not a step 3^ou march forth nor answer my 

call — 
So I'm afraid, crocuses, you're not soldiers 

at all! 

Gold Humting 



© 



HE miser hurries through the town, 
His head is bent, he wears a frown; 
He hurries by through lane and street. 
He would make more gold to-day, 
Yet there is gold along the way 
Growing at his very feet! 

Dandelions round and gold — 
All the dollars I can hold 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 111 

Here are spread for me ; 
I shall pluck them — one, two, three! 
Now I'm rich, what shall I buy? 
Give me, Sir, a piece of sky 
With the sunset shining through, 
Gold or crimson, silver blue; 
Give me. Sir, a bird that sings, 
Pulsing throat and busy wings. 

And the other summer things. 
I shall buy a road that goes 
To a land where no one knows. 
And a long, long summer day. 
Full of sunshine, birds, and play. 

Miser, miser, here's God's gold, 
Gather some before you're old I 



112 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

^ The Little Cloud Comes Down 

©HE little spot of earth below 
So pretty seemed the strong wind 
could not blow 
The curly cloud away; 
But right above, it lingered all the day; 
And O, it got to like the spot so well, 
It wanted to go down, and all at once — 

Down, down, it fell. 
With a pattering noise that was swift and 

loud. 
But the earth was as glad as the curly cloud! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 113 



Ldttle Baby Pussies 

HITTLE baby pussies, swinging in the 
trees. 
Do you play at hide-and-seek, when nobody 

sees? 
Can't you jump and toss and spring as all 

kittens do — 
Crouching down, then scampering, when the 
wind rides through? 

I have seen your soft gray coats — rubbed 

your downy fur; 
If I stroke you gently, will you gently purr? 
Last night when the wind was up, I heard 

a long mew-mew 
Like a million pussy-cats — pussies, was it 

you? 



114 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Easter Day 



fi 



ABBITS, chicks, and everything, 
All dress up to keep the spring; 

That's how small maids learned the way 

To celebrate the Easter Day. 



And every bird has learned to sing 
A brand new song about the spring; 
And every small maid has a bonnet 
With a brand new ribband on it. 

And all the glad earth looks its best. 
In buds and leaves and ribbands dressed, 
In buckles, songs and green array. 
And so — ^the world keeps Easter Day! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 115 



Trees to Let 



I'VE pleasant rooms to rent, youVe 
heard? 
Well, step inside, dear Mr. Bird; 
I'll take you up and let you see 
The rooms in my apartment tree; 
And, Mrs. Bird, does this please you? — 
I think you'll find no better view 
Around, nor any rooms so high — 
Such windows facing on the sky! 

You'll take the rooms at once, you say? 
Well, Mr. Bird, how will you pay? 
"A hundred little songs a day!" 

And so my tree is rented now ; 

A nest is swinging from each bough ; 

And I grow richer listening 

To all the songs my tenants sing. 



116 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



I Know a Pussy 

I KNOW a pussy soft as silk 
That never lapped a sup of milk, 
Nor washed his paw with kitten glee — 
My pussy lives high in a tree ! 

He has a thousand sisters, brothers, 
Aunts, uncles, cousins, and some others ; 
They do not run about the house 
Nor try to catch a single mouse. 

They listen when the wind goes by, 
And gaze up at the big round sky. 
They've nothing else to do, you see, 
They're pussy willows in a tree. 



M^V 



ARBOR DAY 
MEMORIAL DAY 
TREES 
THOUGHTS 
BIRDS 



AND 



ALL 



OUT-DOORS 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 119 



"Moon of Grreeu Leaves'^ 

ffiOON of green leaves come to me, 
Come to every wishing tree. 
Come, the leaves and I would play," 
Cried the Indian boy to May. 

"Moon of green leaves," now we call. 
Through the street and woods and all, 
"Moon of green leaves," pretty May- 
Come — the whole world wants to play! 

All the World Is 
Right for Play 

LL the world is right for play 

In May; 

Brooks and flowers and everything. 
Butterflies and birds on wing. 
Children after school is done, 
Rimning, gi'owing, in the sun, 
Hoops and kites and every toy 
Proper for a girl or boy, 
All are out on every side 
In the street and meadows wide; 
All the world is right for play 
In Mayl 




120 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



May 



ffi 



OON of Green Leaves," so 
They called you long ago, 

So the Indian child at play 

Spoke your name, dear Month of May, 



May Is Pretty, 
May Is Mild 



ffl 



AY is pretty, May is mild, 
Dances like a happy child ; 
Sing out, robin; spring out, flowers; 
April went with all her showers, 
And the world is green again; 
Come out, children, to the glen, 
To the meadows, to the wood, 
For the earth is clean and good. 
And the sky is clear and blue. 
And bright May is calling you I 

May is pretty. May is mild. 
Dances like a happy child. 
On a blessed holiday. 
Come out, children, join the play! 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 121 

All the Things a Bird Is 
(For Four Children) 

LL the things a bird is, swinging in a 
tree. 
He's the builder of a house as high as high 

can be. 
He makes it cozy, safe, and strong, 
A pleasant home the summer long. 

He's a traveler through the air. 
He knows the streets to anywhere, 
When autumn comes away he'll fly 
Along the south road of the sky. 

He's a singer in the sun. 
Calling out to every one. 
To hear him tell from East to West 
The heart that sings and loves is best. 

He's a teacher telling you 
Be strong and busy, wise and true. 
And learn to journey, build and sing, 
And find the good in everything. 



122 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Little Folks in the Grass 

IN the grass 
A thousand little people pass. 
And all about a myriad little eyes look out, 
For there are houses every side 
Where the little folks abide. 
Where the little folks take tea 
On a grass blade near a tree ; 
Where they hold their Sabbath meetings, 
Pass each other, giving greetings. 
So remember when you pass 
Through the grass; 
Little folks are everywhere; 
Walk quite softly, take great care 
Lest you hurt them unaware. 
Lest the giant that is YOU 
Pull a house down with his shoe. 
Pull a house down, roof and all. 
Killing children, great and small; 
So the wee eyes look at you 
As you walk the meadows through, 
So remember when you pass 
Through the grass ! 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 123 

May Has Such a Winsome Way 

AY 

Has such a winsome way. 
Loves to love and laugh and play, 
To be pretty all the day, 
Never loves to sulk and frown. 
As April does ; when rain comes down. 
May is sorry, says: "Rain, please 
Go away soon, flowers and trees 
Love the merry shining sun. 
Want to laugh now, every one. 
For the happy time's begun," 

All you people who love play. 
Love to love the livelong day. 
Do you not love May 
With her winsome way? 




124 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Spring Comes With 
Wand in Hand 

PRING comes with wand in hand, 
And changes to a princess grand 
The beggar world, all wet and cold. 
And fills the princess' lap with gold, 
And sends her to the royal ball. 
With banners, trumpets, knights and all! 

The Tree Outside 

^^^>rHE tree outside stands straight and 

l^J tall 

And never can lie down at all; 

For if it once should take a rest, 

I fear for each small swinging nest; 

And so untiredly it stands 

And holds up in its leafy hands 

The little nests ; and soon and late 

I bless my good tree, tall and straight, 

I bless its kind strong loving arms, 

That hold the birds and nests from harms, 

It never does grow tired at all, 

I love you. Tree, straight, kind, and tall. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 125 




A Thousand Thoughts 

THOUSAND thoughts come in my 
head 

And fill the livelong day; 
Some are so big I wonder how 

They find the space to stay; 
And sometimes they're so busy 

I go off quite alone 
And talk to them beneath the sky 

Upon a mossy stone; 
And I have quite a pleasant day 
Just listening to what they say; 
Some come from near and some from far, 
And some are pretty as a star ; 
Some are quite big and some are small, 
Some can't be understood at all 
By just a child like me; 
And so I'll wait until I'm big to see. 



126 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Twilight 

^^^v HE first glad breath of day is dear; 

%^ y The sky is very soft and near; 
The noon is glorious with light; 
And afternoon is bright; 
But I love twilight best, it seems. 
When all the air is drenched with dreama. 
And up against the sunset bar, 
One small dream changes to a star I 



To a Bird 

OBIRD that darts now low, now high, 
You know the streets across the sky; 
You know where leafy lanes lie deep 
And quiet nooks to go to sleep ; 
You know the place to build a nest. 
What twigs to use, what shape is best; 
I wonder how you found things out 
That scholars never know about ; 
I've studied large books through and 

through, 
But never can be wise as you ! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 127 

Who Is It Sits at the 
Top of the Him 

^V^HO IS it sits at the top of the hill 
11^ And teaches each shy little shivering 
rill? 
And says: "Down, down, your ripples must 

run 
And you must laugh back at the happy sun, 
And you must blow down, O small hill 

breeze, 
And rock the wee nests that hang from the 

trees." 
Some night when the sky is very still, 
I shall climb to the top of the woody hill, 
I shall climb and climb till I find you out, 
As you proudly sit in your high redoubt, 
Old man of the hill, old man of the hill. 
That teaches each breeze and each shivering 

rUl. 



128 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



How a Fairy Spends the Day 

GAN you climb to the top of a pea-vine 
tall, 
And never grow tired, and never fall, 
And always look pretty and always be gay? 
That's how a fairy spends the day, 
And never minds it at all! 



The Peeping Vine 



C5 



HE small vine wants to come inside, 
It peeps within the nursery wide 
To where the children stay. 
Perhaps it wants to join the play; 
O, little vine, you cannot run 
About, and have our hind of fun ; 
But you may live here if you will 
And watch us from the window sill. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 129 



To a Tree 



© 



EAUTIFUL tree, feet in the ground, 
Are you, like me, fast to earth bound? 



Beautiful tree, stretching so high, 
Seek you, like me, God in the sky? 



The Garden Wasn*t a Garden 



C5 



HE garden wasn't a garden. 
It was a castle tall. 
The trees were mighty turrets, 
Ramparts, the garden wall. 



The breeze was the lone piper 

Playing a wild song, 
And Freddie was the Black Knight 

The afternoon long. 

Then dark came to the castle 

Around the piper's head. 
And Mother carried the Black Knight, 

And put him safe to bed. 



130 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Friendly Tree 



I 



'VE found a place beside a friendly 
tree, 
Where I'll hide my face when the world 

hurts me. 
For the tree will never hurt; I shall love it 

to the end; 
It shall have a dear, dear name : 

"My true and silent friend." 



May Snow 




AY is a blue and gold and green. 
Not a trace of cloud is seen; 
Yet I find along the way 
Snowflakes falling all the day. 

Dainty snowflakes fragrant white. 
And there's not a cloud in sight, 
Snow you cannot truly be — 
You're just petals from the tree! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 131 




Some People Like 
the Great Things 

OME people like the great things, and 
travel far and wide 

To look upon the strange things, on sea and 
mountainside. 

But I love the friendly things that pass be- 
fore my door, 

The friendly children and the flowers I've 
seen a hundred times before. 

Some people like the great things, the far 

things and the tall. 
But the little things that I love, they do not 

like at all ; 
I talk to all the friendly things the restless 

people pass, 
A butterfly upon a bush, a daisy in the grass. 



132 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Flowers Laugh and 
Talk and Play 



E 



LOWERS laugh and talk and play. 
Don't believe it — Do you say? 
You've never seen them doing so? — 
Well, perhaps, you've seen them grow ! 




Blue-Eyed Grass of May 

TAR, high star, far in the blue, 
I have stars more near than you, 

Shining from the blue-eyed grass, 

Peeping at me as I pass. 

Star, high star, far in the blue, 
I wish that I could pick you, too, 
I know I'd love you better, star. 
If you were not so high and far. 

My little friendly stars are found 
Right close to me upon the ground; 
You shine all night, they shine all day- 
They are the blue-eyed grass of May ! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 138 

The Glad Sun 

^^^v HE glad sun goes across the sky, 
^^^VAt night it drops down in the west. 

And suddenly the dark comes out 

And children go to rest; 

O sun, I'm glad you know the way 

To bring us back the pleasant day. 



God's Gold 



e 



OD placed a gold mint in the sky — 
Large and bright, a heaping store — 

So earth can every day have more. 

He keeps it high. 



He scatters gold abroad at day 
In shining beams ; then far and near 
Dandelions gold appear 
Along the way. 

This is God's gold dropped from the skies, 
He gives it lavishly to earth — 
O take it, spend it, learn its worth — 
All ye with eyes ! 



134 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Friendly Tree, This 
Is Your Day 



E 



RIENDLY tree, this is your day. 
So we'll stop our work and play 

And talk of you. 

And all the good things that you do. 



Standing still and quiet there, 
Sending branches into air, 
Making pleasant shade around. 
Delving far beneath the ground, 
Holding all year safe from harm 
Little nests within your arm, 
Keeping firmly where you are. 
Reaching up to touch a star. 
Growing, working, just as I, 
Seeking God within the sky. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 185 



One Little Cloud 
Is Out To-day 



o 



NE little cloud is out to-day, 
One little cloud, and a whole big sky 
for play — 

What a big place for a little one. 

Shine out, you big round sun. 

Shine out and frighten the little lone cloua, 
I pray, 

The sun shone out and the cloud ran away! 



The First of May 



X 



F I could stay up late no doubt 
I'd catch the buds just bursting out; 
And up from every hidden root 
Would jump a tiny slender shoot; 
I wonder how seeds learn the way, 
They always know the very day — 
The pretty, happy first of May; 
If I could stay up then, no doubt 
I'd catch the buds just bursting out. 



186 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



A Bird May Sit and Sing 

BIRD may sit and sing 
And do his part that way, 
But a child must do some other thing 
As well as play. 




The Fotmtain Is So Happy 



G 



HE fountain is so happy. 
The fountain is so glad, 
You cannot make it sorry 
You cannot make it sad. 



It loves the sunshine and the air. 
It loves to spring and dart. 

But all the fountain's joyousness 
Begins inside its heart. 

It bubbles up with happiness. 
It sparkles all day through, 

It bubbles and flows over 
And shares its joy with you. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 137 



Arbor Day 



o 



N Arbor Day 

We think of birds and greening trees, 
Of meadowlands and humming bees. 
Of orchards far from crowded town, 
Of heights where streams go tumbhng down, 
Wee mountain rills that sing and play — 
On Arbor Day. 

Of how the tree tops coax the rain 
From flying clouds till hill and plain 
Are clean and fresh from sea to sea; 
We plant a seed ; a tiny tree 
Wakes up and throws aside the clod. 
And stretches for the climb toward God — 
We sing a song for the joy of May — 
On Arbor Day. 



13S FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Tree That Lives 
Beside the Brook 



© 



HE tree that lives beside the brook, 
May see itself if it should look; 

But perhaps it does not try. 

It would rather see the sky 

Than look into the brook and trace 

The shadows of its leafy face. 



Fm a Pirate 



X 



'M a pirate in the grass — 
Hear ye people as ye pass; 

I'm a pirate bad and bold, 

Taking dandelion gold — 

All my hands and ships can hold. 



I'm a pirate — ^how the sun 
Glitters on the gold I've won; 
I shall buy you house and land 
And a castle silver-grand 
With the gold within my hand. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 139 



Ocean Mightier Than the Land 



O 



CEAN, mightier than the land, 
Wilful, turbulent, and wild. 

Will you love a little child 

And kiss her hand? 



Ocean, when I play with you. 
The pretty waves are soft and blue. 
But sailors who have sailed away 
Tell you do not always play. 

Far off you toss the great big ships 
Just like tiny wooden chips; 
Tell me, for I want to know 
Why you act just so? 

Ocean mightier than the land. 
Wilful, boisterous and wild — 
Will you love a little child 
And kiss her hand? 



140 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Who Would Hurt a 
Horse or Tree 



W 



HO would hurt a horse or tree 
Does not deserve good company. 
Who would hurt a bird that sings 
Is meanest of all earthly things 



Thoughts 

I 

I THINK I'd like to live on Mars, 
Or any of the neighbor stars ; 
I'd look down on the earth and see 
How very busy folks could be; 
I'd watch them running round and round 
Intent on looking at the ground. . 

II 

If I could build a brand new sky 
I would not make it half so high, 
I'd hang it on the tops of trees 
Where I could reach it at my ease, 
I'd climb up through the evening bars 
And see the wrong side of the stars. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 141 



A Cat Might Sit 
Up in a Tree 




CAT might sit up in a tree 
And be as guiltless as could be. 
But if a nest were near, I know 
I should hardly think him so. 



Memorial Day 



X 



S it enough to think to-day 
Of all our brave, then put away 

The thought until a year has sped? 

Is this full honor for our dead? 



Is it enough to sing a song 

And deck a grave ; and all year long 

Forget the brave who died that we 

Might keep our great land proud and free? 

Full service needs a greater toll — 
That we who live give heart and soul 
To keep the land they died to save. 
And be ourselves, in turn, the brave! 



142 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



// a Bird May Think 



T 



F a bird may think, its thoughts are not 
so small, 
For it may think of skies or hills or anything 
at all. 



So a child may think, thoughts big and free 

and wide — 
It's good for birds and children, thoughts 

need not fit inside. 




May Has Decked the World 

AY has decked the world, that we 
May bring the brave on land or sea 
Earth's glory on Memorial Day, 
The lovely meadow gifts of May. 

Brave dead, who saved our country, we 
Come with flowers ; O living brave, on land 

or sea, 
We wave the bright Red, White and Blue 
And bring May meadow gifts to you ! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 143 



The Sparrow's Little Wings 



C 



HE sparrow's little wings can bear him 
fast and high, 

As safely as an airplane that hurries through 
the sky, 

The airplane's made of wood but the spar- 
row's little wings 

Are safer and more curious than any made- 
up things. 



May Baskets 

IN other lands the children bring 
May baskets for the first of spring, 
And hang them on a lady's door 
To say that spring is here once more ; 
And when the lady comes to see 
What all the sound outside may be, 
She's glad; that's the way 
The Swedish children keep the May. 
But we can do kind things and sing 
And tell our way the joy of spring. 



144 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Airplane 



X 



LIKE to see the airplane and hear the 
buzzing sound, 
And see it settle like a bird quite safely on 

the ground; 
I like to see it spread its wings just like a 

butterfly — 
[You'd think perhaps 'twould find a star to 
light on in the sky. 



June=fttlp=augtts{t 



FLAG DAY 

END OF SCHOOL 

VACATION 

FOURTH OF JULY 

BROOKS 

FLOWERS 

FAIRIES 



AND 



PEOPLE 

NEAR 

AND 

FAR 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 147 

Why Was Jtme Made? 

^■&HY was June made? — Can you guess? 
1 l^June was made for happiness I 

Even the trees 

Know this, and the breeze 

That loves to play 

Outside all day. 

And never is too bold or rough, 

Like March's wind, but just a tiny blow's 
enough ; 

And all the fields know 

This is so — 

June was not made for wind and stress, 

June was made for happiness; 

Little happy daisy faces 

Show it in the meadow places. 

And they call out when I pass, 

"Stay and play here in the grass." 

June was made for happy things. 

Boats and flowers, stars and wings. 

Not for wind and stress, 

June was made for happiness! 



148 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Sputtering Glow-Worm 

PUTTERING glow-worm in the 
dark, 
You're but a tiny baby spark; 
You'll have to grow for many a year. 
Before you'll be a star, I fear ! 




June 




ROOF of blue, a carpet green, 
And flowers and tall trees between. 

The faintest little breezes blowing, 

And little tinkling streamlets flowing. 

Then if you look 

In some small nook. 

You'll find the fairies all together 

Dancing, for this is their weather! 

But be careful when you go — 

Lest you fright them, dancing so; 

Underneath a broad green stem 

One wee piper pipes for them, 

Pipes a tiny fairy tune — 

*'0 a fairy month is June" — 

A very fairy month is June ! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 149 



Daisies Standing in the Rain 

OAISIES standing in the rain, 
Hold their heads together. 
But they never once complain 
Of the drenching weather. 

Daisies know the sun will dry- 
All their dripping laces ; 

They're far too wise to frown and sigh 
And spoil their dainty faces. 



There's No Land 
Like Our Land 

©HERE'S no land like our land 
Underneath the sky, 
There's no flag like our flag — 

Keep it clean and high; 
We must serve no other land, 
Serve but ours with heart and hand. 
Flag and land we pledge to you 
Loyal service all life through. 




150 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Sky and Tree and 
Hill and All 

KY and tree and hill and all, 
I could touch you were I tall ; 
But I shall not even try, 
Great big tree and hill and sky; 
I shall stay down here, and see 
All the little things like me. 
And let all the big things be. 
Till I grow up wise and tall. 
Sky and tree and hill and all. 

Up Clover Lane 



a 



P Clover Lane and Daisy Street 
Small folks crowd with hurrying feet, 

Up and down and back again. 

Just like hurrying human men; 

Up and down and in between. 

Walls of waving living green. 

What to me's a dainty stem 

Is a towering thing to them. 

And to them I know that I 

Am a giant standing high. 

Touching with my head the sky. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 151 

Grassy Meadow School 

IN the grassy meadow school 
All the flowers learn the rule. 
Every flower stands up straight. 
Not a one is cross or late. 
Straggling in the schoolhouse gate. 

Not a flower has a book ; 
But the teacher. Meadow Brook, 
Tells the lesson all the day, 
Talking in her meadow way — 
(You may think it's only play I) 

But it's serious, indeed, 
Teaching every flower and seed. 
For the flowers in a row 
Learn what but the wisest know. 
That the best thing is to grow ! 



152 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Fairy Trail 



O 



VER stick, over stone, over fence, over 
rail. 

In crookedy turns goes the fairy trail ; 
One step to the right round a mustard seed, 
And one to the left of the tall brown weed — 
Through rocking passes 
Of slender grasses. 

And after — a leap to the buttercup's crown, 
A dance on the petals, and soft again, down, 
A hop, skip and jump past the ant on his 

way. 
Poor fellow, too busy to play. 
Too busy to bid you the time o' the day ; 
If he only knew what the fairies know. 
It's best to be happy and laugh and grow, 
He wouldn't be wasting the good days so! 

O the trail winds up to the green tree top, 
With many a curve, and a jerk, and a stop — 
And a glance at each quivering growing 

thing. 
And a hitch back home on a butterfly's 

wing — 



' FOR DAYS AND DAYS 153 

Who would take the trail now — follow, 

follow, 
Over brush, over mosses, through field and 

hollow. 
Over stick, over stone, over fence, over rail. 
In crookedy turns goes the fairy trail. 

The Meadow Brook 



© 



HE meadow brook is always a happy 
little elf, 
For when there's no one else around, he 

plays all by himself ; 
He looks up at the sky and trees and never 

feels alone 
And rushes by each swaying grass and leaps 

on every stone; 
He's busy and he's happy the whole long 

summer day, 
Altho' there's not a soul around to talk to 

him or play. 
The meadow brook's a very merry busy lit- 
tle elf. 
Because when no one is around, he plays all 

by himself. 



154 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Songs 



CHE brook has a way to spend the day 
Lords and ladies never know. 
Going where it wants to go. 
Running where it wants to run. 
In the shadows, in the sun, 
Where the little minnows play. 
That's the way to spend the day. 
Says the brook, 

n 

The bird has a way to spend the day 
Different from the brook and you. 
Flying where the skies are blue, 
Over turrets, chimneys, winging 
All its heart in small songs flinging. 
Every note and twist is play. 
That's the way to spend the day, 
Says the bird. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 155 



I Like to Wander Of Alone 



X 



LIKE to wander off alone 
And climb upon a great tall stone, 
And wonder. 



I like to wonder at the sky, 
The curly cloud that tumbles by; 
I like to wonder at the grass 
And all the flying things that pass, 
I wonder if they wonder, too. 
The httle things— perhaps they do. 
Perhaps they wonder who am I 
To stare at them as they pass by; 

The curly cloud looks down at me 
And wonders, too, what I may be, 
A tiny spot, so very small. 
The cloud can hardly see at all; 
And all the world is wondering 
At every other wondering thing. 
There's so much wondering to do, 
I wonder if I could get through; 
I think perhaps I might some day 
If I should never stop for play — 
I wonder! 




156 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

A Butterfly Talks 

BUTTERFLY talks to each flower 
And stops to eat and drink, 
And I have seen one hghting 
In a quiet spot to thinK; 
For there are many things he sees that puz- 
zle him, indeed, 
And I believe he thinks as well as some who 
write and read. 



World of Clover, 
White and Red 

^■^ORLD of clover, white and red, 
\1/Arch of blue sky overhead. 
What is your song, O world of clover. 
What is your song, sky bending over ; 
Streamlets hiding under the green. 
Music of spirits that never are seen. 
What is your song, what is your tune? 
"June, June, June — 
It's really Junel" 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 157 



Wave, Wave, Wave 



m 



AVE, wave, wave, 
Glad flag of the free, 
While men march and fight and die 
For you and liberty! 



Lions Rurvmng Over 
the Green 



H 



IONS running over the green. 
Fiercest of creatures that ever were 
seen. 
Chasing Tom and Dick and Sue — 
I hope they won't be caught, don't you? 



The lions chase them through the gate, 
But Sue cries out: "O lions, wait. 
My shoe's untied !" One lion then 
Ties the lacing up again. 

And after that the chase goes on 
Until the afternoon is gone — 
The fiercest creatures ever seen, 
Lions running over the green! 



158 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Flag, Our Flag 



H 



LAG, that waves the whole day 
through, 
Do you know that we love you? 
Do you know 
As you blow 

That our hearts are stirring so — 
Flag, our Red, and White, and Blue? 

Where you float above the street 
Children look and stop their play. 

Workers stop their hasting feet, 
Flag, our flag, for you to-day. 

Far below 

The brave men go, 

Marching, marching, trusting so, 

Flag, our flag, you'll ever blow; 

Up there high — 

Closer, closer, to the sky. 

Flag that waves the whole day through. 
Do you know that we love you. 
Glorious Red, White and Blue. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 159 



Things That Walk With Feet 



G 



KINGS that walk with feet or fly 
above the land 
The creatures of the sea can hardly under- 
stand. 



Flags 



E 



LAGS of every size 
Float above our land. 
The great big one upon the pole 
And a small one in my hand. 



The large flag speaks for liberty. 

But the little one does, too-; 
And it doesn't matter if large or small 

If it's Red and White and Blue. 

And it doesn't matter if large or small, 

The people will understand; 
Whether it waves from the steeple 

Or only from my hand. 



160 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



I Lake the Brook 



I 



LIKE the brook, I like the tree, 
The solemn-sounding rolling sea, 
The little roads where children stray, — 
I like to like things all the day. 



The Leader 



o 



OWN, the hollow, up the hill. 
Where the wind is never still, 
Riding on the white-tipped foam. 
Climbing to the eagle's home. 
On the earth or in the sky. 
Where the flag goes — there go II 

Where the blow is struck for right. 
In the mist or dark or light. 
Where the prisoned would be free, 
Where men die for liberty; 
Down the hollow, through the mead. 
There I follow where you lead 
In the earth or in the sky 
Where the flag goes — there go 1 1 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 161 



Hills 



nILLS— 
Blue and green hills, near and far, 
The farther they lie, the better they are. 
The near ones I can climb and see 
But the beautiful far ones call to me. 




A Paper Moon 

PAPER moon, I'll hang it high 
Up in a dark blue paper sky; 
Some pretty silvery stars I'll make — 
All for the little lone moon's sake; 
My bed shall be the evening grass, 
Where only fairy people pass; 

Where no one sees 

But the breeze 

That hurries lightly through the trees; 
The sky I'll hang above my head. 
When I'm undressed to go to bed; 
And so, a gypsy child I'll play 
That has no real home to stay. 



162 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



I Wonder Did Each 
Flower Know 



X 



WONDER did each flower know 
As well as now just how to grow 
In that far first early spring 
When the world was made. 



Or did they make mistakes as I 

Make very often when I try 

At first, and try again, — perhaps just so, 

As you and I, they learned to grow. 



The Liady Has a Garden 

CHE lady has a garden wide, 
With great stone walls on either side, 
And every flower that grows is there — 
But — what does the lady care! 

My garden is so very small, 
It needs no fence, it needs no wall; 
It's but one tiny plant — that's all! 
And yet I tend it with a will — 
My garden is my window sill! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 163 

The Poor Little Rich Flower 

IT'S better to be a buttercup out in the 
grass 
Where a hundred children pass, 
And at evening drink the dew, 
Than be you, 
Poor httle rich flower. 
Shut up in a lady's bower. 

Does the lady look your way 

Any day? 

Ever stoop to you and bless? 

Give your head a soft caress? 

You are such a tiny part 

Of all her things. Her heart 

A crowded palace is; but O, to know the 

bliss 
Of being meadow-glad — like this — 
You should be out in the grass 
Where the happy children pass — 
We would like to welcome you 
To our sunshine, rain, and dew. 
Flower, in a lady's bower. 



164 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

June's Picture 

HET me paint June's picture — first I 
take some gold, 
Fill the picture full of sun, all that it can 

hold; 
Save some for the butterflies, darting all 

around, 
And some more for buttercups here upon the 

ground; 
Take a lot of baby-blue — this — to make the 

sky. 
With a lot of downy white — soft clouds 

floating by; 
Cover all the ground with green, hang it 

from the trees. 
Sprinkle it with shiny white, neatly as you 

please; 
So — a million daisies spring up every- 
where. 
Surely you can see now what is in the air ! 
Here's a thread of silver — that's a little 

brook 
To hide in dainty places where only children 

look. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 165 

Next, comes something — guess — it grows 
Among green hedges — it's the rose! 
Brown for a bird to sing a song, 
Brown for a road to walk along. 

Then add some happy children to the fields 
and flowers and skies. 

And so you have June's picture here be- 
fore your eyes. 

'June" Sang the River 



Xi 



UNE" sang the river, "June*' sang the 
sky; 
*'June" sang the trees and the flowers to- 
gether, 
"June" sang the meadow-lark, "June" 

sing I ; 
June is the month of singing weather. 
June is the time for swinging clover. 
Time for the rumbling old fat bee-rover, 
Time for the sky to bend sweetly over. 
And whisper, "Earth dear, from the East 

to the West 
You are lovely all seasons — but in June far 
the best!" 



166 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



God's Garden 



e 



OD'S garden stretches far and wide, 
With trees and birds on every side. 
With sunshine all the summer day 
So people may walk out and play, 
And lanterns hanging through the night 
To keep the pathways always bright; 
God's garden stretches near and far — 
From my gate to the evening star. 



Harebells 



® 



HEN the grasses sway and quiver 
In the dells along the river. 
Tiny bells are ringing so 
All the fairy world will know 
"June has come to town!" 



All the world is right for playing; 
Fairies through the meadows straying 
Listen for the tiny bells — 
Harebells chiming through the dells 
"June has come to town!" 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 167 



The Harebells Ring 

DHE harebells ring on every lea, 
They call the blue bells oversea, 
And all the world takes up the tune. 
Skies and earth, it's June, June, June! 



June's Flag 



u 



UNE flung her flag out 
Shining wet with dew, — 

Red and white the clover 
And a sky of blue! 



June sang a song to the flag of the free. 
The wind caught the music and sang it to the 

tree. 
The sky caught the music and sang it 'cross 

the sea; 
The sea caught the music and flung it round 

the world ; 
Then a million flags like June's flag were 

instantly unfurled. 
So sing on forever, O wind, and sky, and sea. 
And wave on so forever, bright flag of the 

free! 



168 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



If Your Nurse Is 
Cross or Mean 

IF your nurse is cross or mean. 
You must never mind her ; 
Wait until your face is clean 
And you will find her kinder. 

Butterfly, Lend Me Your 
Wings I Pray 



© 



UTTERFLY, lend me your wings, I 
pray. 

Lend me your wings for a golden day, 
I would fly over the bush and tree. 
Over the children that play with me. 

The butterfly lent me his wings, but I 
Stayed right on the ground— I could not 

fly; 

My feet were heavy, my head would fall. 
Butterfly, I cannot fly at all! 

Butterfly, butterfly, take your wings, 
I must go walking like other things. 
Butterfly, take back your wings again, 
And I shall run after you through the glen. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 169 



June Is Such a Bonny Time 



u 



UNE is such a bonny time — 
Bird and flower weather — 
Time for song and love and rime — 

Time to be together; 
Time for hoops and sails and wings, 
Butterflies and happy things. 



I Heard a Little Fairy Say 



T 



HEARD a little fairy say: 
"It's very dark within, 
Please open wide, dear flower-door. 
And let the sunshine in." 



And there before my very gaze 
The flower opened wide; 

And perched upon a stamen top, 
A fairy sat inside. 

"How do you do, small fairy, 
I wish you a good day," 

The fairy dropped a curtsy. 
Then quickly flew away. 



170 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

I Took a Little Seed to You 

I TOOK a little seed to you; 
You planted it, and straight it grew 
Into a tall tree, strong and fair. 
That spread cool branches in the air. 
And swallows came and nested there. 
Now all the world is glad indeed 
For that small seed. 



Bed and White Roofs 







ED and white roofs, and the sky 
Star-studded blue. 
Up there in the air, high, O high. 
That's you. Our Flag, that's you! 



Red, white, blue from East to West — 

Our sky knows what flag is best — 

And so, it's unfurled 

To the world 

Sun-sky or star-sky — 

There in the air — ^high, O high, 

Here's to you. Our Flag, here's to you ! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 171 



July 



^ l^ULY'S for Independence Day, 
'^^^For flags and speeches and for play, 
For hiding deep in meadow grass 
And watching flying creatures pass. 
For sailing boats on little seas. 
Where just the smallest summer breeze 
Can blow ; for picking flowers any day ; 
July comes for flags and play. 



Holidays 



o 



F all, the flowers love a holiday. 
For then the children come to play. 
In the meadow where they stay. 



Other days the walled-up school. 
Keeps them in to learn the rule, 
Far away from flower and pool. 

And the flowers all about 
Love the sound of laugh and shout- 
Love the days when school is out. 



172 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

There's Many a Lonesome Daisy 

^^^HERE ' S many a lonesome daisy 
^^^^ where never a child can be, 

And many a lone little brooklet is dancing 

away to the sea; 
Yet children must stay in the city with only 

dull walls in view, 
As if there were never a brooklet and never 
a daisy grew! 

Two Skies 

SKY above, a sky below, 
Round my boat, I'm drifting so. 

Hanging, drifting, two between. 

Swaying like the living green. 

The sky above is blue and high — 
I cannot reach it though I try; 
My sky below is sweeter far — 
A water-lily is its star. 

And I shall trail my hand outside, 
And touch my near sky as I ride, 
Touch the lily, friendlier far, 
Than ever can be the high proud star. 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 173 



The Sea Rolls Up 



c 



HE sea rolls up upon the land 
And plays a game along the sand ; 
But when the children want to play 
The sea just laughs and runs away. 



To the Cornflower 



n 



OW smiling, how wondering, the corn- 
flower's eyes. 

Looking at me joyously in flower-surprise, 

Glad as June's sunshine, bright as her skies. 

Let me have and hold you all the day 
through. 

Darling little comrade, blue as bluest blue, 

You're the sky's own sister, yet I can play 
with you; 

You're the sky's own sister, but you're bet- 
ter than a star, 

For you live right down here with me, and 
not so high and far. 



174 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Summer Glory 



I 



S it true 

That you 
Are indeed 
The shriveled seed 
In spring I buried underground 
Not a bit of green around? 

Now you are 

FuU of light 
As a star; 

Out of night 
Came this glory — grew to this 
Little piece of perfect bliss; 

the joy to know 

1 helped you grow ; 

What mighty one would not be 
Small helper in such glorious ministry! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 175 




August 

UGUST days are hot and still, 
Not a breath on house or hill, 
Not a breath on height or plain. 
Weary travelers cry for rain; 
But the children quickly find 
A shady place quite to their mind; 
And there all quietly they stay, 
Until the sun has gone away, — 
August is too hot for play! 

People Buy a 
Lot of Things 

QEOPLE buy a lot of things- 
Carts and balls and nails and rings. 
But I would buy a bird that sings. 

I would buy a bird that sings and let it sing 

for me, 
And let it sing of flying things and mating 

in a tree. 
And then I'd open wide the cage, and set 

the singer free. 



176 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

hong Ago and Far Away 

nONG ago and far away — 
All the good things were, they say. 
Silver knights and castles gold. 
Ladies fair and witches old, 
Banners, trumpets, glad array. 
Long ago and far away. 

Long ago and far away — 

Wish that good time were to-day — 

Dragons lived in caves of glass, 

Never let a brave knight pass. 

If his armor was not on — 

All good things are past and gone — 

Long ago and far away — 

Now a boy can only play. 

O to live in that far day, 
Long ago and far away; 
Fight the dragon till he bled, 
Carry off his tail and head. 
Kill the old witch in her lair. 
Rescue babes and ladies fair — 
'Twas the tale of any day, 
Long ago and far away. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 177 



Bright Shines the 
Star-Dipped Flag 



© 



RIGHT shines the star-dipped flag, 
Bright in the sun, 
Bright when the battle breaks, 
Bright when it's won. 



Look to its star-dipped fold 

Look to the sky. 
For all that banner holds 

Conquer or diel 

Harebells in June 







ING slender bells an elfin tune, 
To summon all the elves of June ; 

It's^time to make the plans for summer- 
time, 

Chime, little bells, along the river, chime; 

And let me lie with ear close to the ground, 

To hear the witching sound. 

Ring slender bells this bonny weather. 
Call all the elves of June together. 




178 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

All Day the Happy Indian 

LL day the happy Indian stalks about 
the land, 
Happy in the forest or in the desert sand, 
And I would be an Indian except at night, 
For I love a cool bed of dazzling white. 

At night the sleepy Indian lies upon the 

ground, 
And maybe people step on him that walk 

around. 
He sleeps upon a dusty skin with all his 

might 
For he never had a cool bed of dazzling 

white. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 179 



It's Fun to Have a Secret 



I 



T'S fun to have a secret and keep it 
very well, 
And meet a lot of people and never, never 

tell; 
It's fun to go a-walking all in the lane alone. 
And think about the secret that is really 

quite your own. 
And then when you have kept it very long, 

perhaps a day, 
It's fun to share the secret with another child 

at play. 
And then two have the secret and keep it 

very well. 
Until it's time the secret's out and then at 

last they tell. 



180 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Lamps 



C3 



HE sun's a lamp so large and rounds 
It lights up all the sky and ground; 

The stars are lamps that shine at night 

To keep the lonely pathways bright; 

The moon's a lamp that's often small, 

And sometimes like a great red ball — 

A Chinese lantern in the sky 

Hanging very far and high; 

Then there are other lamps than these — 

Just little lamps among the trees; 

And in the grass the fairies swing 

Tiny glow-worms flickering, 

And in a circle dance and sing. 

So there are lamps of every size 

Shining in the earth and skies. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 181 



Little Eskimo 



n 



ITTLE Eskimo, are you 
Glad you live in your igloo? 

I would spend the snowy day 

Thinking thoughts of far away. 

If I were you 

In your igloo — 

Here the houses are so tall 

People need not creep at all — 

When you creep in, Eskimo, 

Do you find it pleasant, so? 

Little Eskimo, do you 

Play with snow the long year through. 

Make a summer-snow-man, too? 

You have never been at play 

In a wagon full of hay, 

Romped about in meadow flowers 

All the long vacation hours. 

Little Eskimo, would ygu 

Like to live in our land, too? 



182 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Being a Fairy 



© 



EING a fairy — do you ask 

If that is a perfectly simple task? 



To jump the buttercups — crown to crown — 
And never so much as bend one down ; 
To follow the trail of the long-veined grass 
And catch at the grasshoppers as they pass ; 
To hang the tip of a butterfly's wing, 
And over the clover go fluttering — 
As far as the sunshine, as free as the air, 
Over and under and everywhere! 
This is the way, the very way, 
A fairy spends the summer day. 

To sleep in a violet's hood of blue. 

And bathe in a drop of glittering dew. 

To dress by a sputtering glow-worm's light 

In a daisy petal of coolest white. 

To dance as soon as the moon comes up 

In the splendid halls of a poppy cup. 

To follow the lumbering bee on his round, 
And chat with the wistful roots under the 

ground, 
To tell them the fashions, the time o' the day. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 183 

And how the sky looks, and what the winds 

play, 
To startle the shy little shadowy stream. 
And sail on a cloud through a little girl's 
dream. 
I'm sure this would be 
A difficult life for you or for me, 

But fairies are clever, tho' not very tall, 
And they do not find it a hard life at all. 
And what would be work for us, is for them, 

play— 
They call each thing joyous and that is the 

way 
The fairies get through all the tasks of the 

day. 



184 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Being a Hermit 

I'LL be a hermit, in this tree 
Up high I'll live and always be 
Quite, quite alone to spend the day 
At thinking things with folks away. 

I'll think and think and grow quite wise 
About all things in earth and skies — 
The things in books I'd like to know; 
The wisest person I shall grow. 

It's fun to be a hermit — you 
Don't need the things that others do. 
And so, a hermit I shall be — 
But Mother's calling now for teal 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 185 



The Sun 

HONG before the postman comes 
The sun begins to rise, 
Far in the East if you should look 

You'd find it in the skies. 
At first it's just a streak of light 
Then all at once the world gets bright. 

Then in the sky from East to West 
The happy sun goes on its way. 

And all day long it shines its best 
To give us pleasant day. 

Dear God, who made the day and night, 

We thank Thee for the sun's good light. 



186 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Bird of the Sky 



© 



IRD of the skjr, 

How does it feel to dart and fly, 
How does it feel to soar all day 
"Over the hills and far away"? 



To live in a tree, 
To build a house as fine as can be. 
To build it safe, and warm, and high, 
And call it home — bird of the sky? 

To perch and sing, 

Up there where the leaves are quivering, 
Singing and winging and building high. 
How does it feel — ^bird of the sky? 



^eptemlier 



OPENING OF SCHOOL 

TREES 

FIREFLIES 

TRAINS 

AND 

OTHER 

SEPTEMBER 

THINGS 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 189 



September 



e 



OLDEN in the garden. 
Golden in the glen. 
Golden, golden, golden 

September's here again! 
Golden in the tree tops, 
Golden in the sky — 
Golden, golden, golden 
September's going by! 



Eugene Field 

Born September 3, 1850 

T night when the Rockaby Lady comes 

With dollies, and lollypops, bugles and 
drums. 
With poppies that hang from her head to 

her feet, 
I think of a friend who knew Hushaby 

Street, 
And told of the Lady to children he knew. 
And wrote it out plain in a small book for 

you. 




190 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



End of Fun 



® 



OVER lies all in a heap 

Fast asleep; 
No more fun in food or play — 
Jimmie's gone away, 
School began to-day! 



You big folks that make the rules 
For the schools, 

Can't you see things Rover's way? 
Can't you let a fellow play? 
Jimmie's up and gone 
With his school-clothes on; 
End of summer, end of play, 
Jimmie's gone away — 
School began to-day 1 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 191 



After Vacation 



© 



HE first day at school is the very best 
one, 
If all days were first days then school would 
be fun. 



Magic 



© 



AKE some little words. 
Place them in a row, 
Soon you have a pretty story 
Made before you know. 



Tales of house and hill, 
Butterflies and birds. 
Anything at all you will. 
Made from little words. 



192 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

The Little Words 
Within My Booh 

HE little words within my book, 
Are always waiting when I look ; 
They're made of marks set in a row 
That any child who reads may know ; 
They're pictures of the sounds we say 
At home or dinner-time or play. 





The Traffic Man 

HE traffic man stands in the square 
And stops the autos that go by, 
To him a king or millionaire 
Is just the same as you or I. 

He stops the traffic all the day 
And has the very best of fun; 

I think he hates to go away 
When his day's work is done. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 193 



The Mayor's Children 



C 



O be the Mayor's children it must be 
lots of fun, 
With two big lamps outside your door when 

other doors have none ; 
And all the children in the street would envy 

you all day, 
And let you be the chief est one in every kind 

of play. 



The Fairies Do Not 
Like the Dark 



c 



HE fairies do not like the dark, 
The glow-worm is their lamp 
That shines about now here, now there, 
And sputters in the damp. 



The fairies meet each other. 

While traveling through the night. 

And just to show their friendliness 
Each shakes a little light. 



194, FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Trains in the Grass 



X 



T'S fun to watch the trains go by 
Across the world as in the grass you lie 
So carelessly, and think far thoughts of 

cities gray, 
And watch the smoke curls die away 
Across the brook or in the trees; 
It's fun to lie quite at your ease 
And dream that you are riding far 
Inside the hurrying, clanging car. 

How fast the train goes everywhere. 

It seems to fly straight through the air, 

And never touch the ground at all; 

You see small boys — you try to call 

To them as in the grass they lie ; 

So fast you fly 

Before they answer you are by; 

But there's another boy not far; 

You call out from your flying car 

To him, and yet he never hears; 

Just then a great big bridge appears 

And you forget him, and look out 

At all the moving things about; 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 195 

You wonder if the people, too, 
Look in, and wonder who are you. 
And where you come from, is it far, 
What kind of folks your people are. 

All at once a bee goes by, 

A May bug, then a butterfly, 

A poppy shakes a dusty head 

And you are in the grass instead; 

And then you know that, after all. 

You are the boy you tried to call, 

You are the boy the people pass 

Inside the train, that looking through the 

glass 
They see outstretched in meadow grass; 
And there you lie the summer day. 
And see the smoke curls die away. 



196 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Pens Make Word Pictures 

QENS make word pictures in a row, 
And in an envelope car they go ; 
They ride out quickly from my hand 
And go across the sea and land, 
To bring a wish where friends may be. 
At work or play or taking tea. 



The Tree Stands Very 
Straight and Still 



G 



HE tree stands very straight and still 
All night long far on the hill; 

But if I go and listen near 

A million little sounds I hear, 

The leaves are little whispering elves 

Talking, playing by themselves, 

Playing softly altogether 

In the warm or windy weather, 

Talking softly to the sky 

Or any bird that dartles by, 

O little elves within the tree. 

Is there no word to tell to me ? 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 197 



The Forest 



G 



HE forest is the town of trees 
Where they Hve quite at their ease. 

With their neighbors at their side 

Just as we in cities wide. 



When Children Play 
and Romp About 



® 



HEN children play and romp about, 
We hear the noise of laugh and shout; 
But little flowers laugh and play 
Quite silently the livelong day; 
They laugh and romp in sunny weather 
And bend, and toss their heads together; 
They call in some soft flower way, 
And we can't hear one word they say. 
And yet, I think, they hear the sound 
Of happy children playing round. 
For each looks up with flower glee. 
And says as plain as words could be : 
"Dear children, come, pick me, pick me!" 



198 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Alone and Together 

I HAD a lovely lonely day; 
The house was very still 
And not a breeze came out to play 

High on the orchard hill ; 
Old Rover lay so fast asleep. 
He did not even care to peep 
As I went past him to the brook ; 
There I found a lovely nook 
Beside a great big stone, 
Where I could play quite, quite alone; 
And there within my house of green 
I was the little fairy queen 
In golden dress and feather gay, — 
And all the world was far away. 

And then I played an orphan child 
Alone in some land far and wild, 
Who never had an aunt or brother. 
Who never even had a mother; 
I played all day beside the stone. 
It is such fun to be alone! 

But soon the sun went down, and O, 
It's different in the dark, you know ; 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 199 

The sky seemed cold, and far, and queer. 
How glad I was the house was near. 
And Mother standing at the door; 
I kissed her hard three times or more, 
Because I had been that poor child 
Alone in that land far and wild ; 
When tea time comes who'd sit alone 
And have no family of her own 
Around the table white and clean. 
And who would be the fairy queen 
In golden dress and silken feather? — 
It is such fun to be together! 



Utile Room 



H 



ITTLE Room, you're kind and still. 
Sweeter far than field or hill, 

For the field is open wide 

I can never feel "inside"; 

And the hill is full of sound 

Of the crickets on the ground. 

And the sky is cold and far — 

Not the friendly soul, you are, 

Little Room. 



200 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Lazy Little Firefly 

HAZY little firefly, keep your lamp 
aglow, 
See, the stars shine steadily, but you flicker 

so. 
First you light your tiny lamp by a mossy 

stone 
Then you put it out again, and I feel quite 

alone. 
Please for once shine steadily, let your little 

lamp 
Light me through the darkened wood to the 

fairy camp. 
I would find the fairies sitting in a row 
Telling funny fairy tales fairy children 

know. 
Out again! — The fairy trail I shall never 

find, 
Lazy tricksy firefly, you are most unkind! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 201 



The Tall Trees 
Look Out Very Fat 



c 



HE tall trees look out very far, 
Perhaps as far as where you are; 
But I can't see so far around, 
For I must stay quite near the ground. 



The Straight Young Trees 

CHE straight young trees too proudly 
stand 
Erect, apart, to take a brother's hand, 
But later when grown old and strong and 

wise. 
They see with understanding eyes, 
And then across the road they bend to grasp 
A brother's hand in friendly leafy clasp; 
And as the changing seasons come and go 
Thus bravely linked they welcome sun and 

snow. 
And friendly time but makes them stronger, 

kinder, closer grow. 



202 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Giant-Land 



C 



HE lanterns swinging to and fro 
Are giant glow-worms in a row ; 
And when the story-giants pass 
The trees are only waving grass. 



Weather Cock 



® 



EATHER cock blowing whenever 
winds blow, 
Going where some one else wants you to go, 
I would not like always to have to do so. 



Perhaps it is fine to live up very high, 
And swing around often and look at the sky, 
But I think, after all, I would rather be I* 

I'd rather be I and live down here below, 
And wait when I like, and when I like go. 
But you must go always the way the winds 
blow. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 208 



Waifs 



© 



ETWEEN the road and garden bed 
a straggling daisy grew, 
But whether weed or flower it was, it never 

really knew; 
Until one day a city waif with pallid fea^ 

tures passed, 
And bore it home triumphantly — ah, then, 

it knew at lastl 



A Dream 

'^^^x WAS such a big pie that I knew 
^^^^It wasn't really truly true; 
It was so high and round and deep, 
I knew at once I was asleep; 
For pies are never made that way 
In day! 

A lion soon came rushing by. 
And gobbled up that great big pie, 
I'm glad now 'twas a dream, aren't you? 
Or else I'd have befen eaten, too! 



204 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

The Mountain May 
Seem Very High 



© 



HE mountain may seem very high, 
It reaches even to the sky, 
And yet the picture holds it all 
As well as things quite near and small, 
And then the picture's but a nook 
In my small picture reading book. 



Sometimes 




OMETIMES I think I'd like to be 
Small as a robin in a tree. 

So I could be with little things 

That go on tiny feet or wings. 

But other times I'd like to be 

Tall as the robin's very tree. 

So I could stretch out very far 

And be with great big things that are. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 205 



Colored Countries 



EROM Greenland's icy mountains to 
far-off Borneo, 
There are countries of all colors where I 

should love to go. 
(I shouldn't mind geography if I could 
travel sol) 

But I must sit upon my seat as proper as 

you please, 
And stare at maps upon the wall all full of 

pale blue seas, 
And pink and purple countries (Do 

they really look like these?) 

O Dear, I'd like to sail away 
And find the purple ones some day, 
I'm sure that I should like to know 
Geography that's studied so. 



206 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

In Land and Sea and 
Shy and Air 



o 



N land and sea and sky and air 
Beautiful things are everywhere, 
In people such as you and me — 
If we would only look and see. 



Once When You Were Walking 

ONCE when you were walking across 
the meadow grass 
A httle fairy touched you — ^but you never 
saw her pass. ' 

One day when you were sitting upon a 

mossy stone, 
A fairy sat beside you, but you thought you 

were alone. 

So no matter what you do, no matter where 

you go, 
A fairy may be near you — ^but you may 

never know. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 207 



The Shy Loves the Tall Hills 

y^-^HE sky loves the tall hills, 
%^ V Wraps them in day, 
Starts a million cooling rills 
Dancing down their way; 
Shelters well each bright head 
Bad days through, 
Every night puts them to bed 
Vf ith coverlet of blue. 



Good Words 







OOD words are doves that fly 
Over house and tree, 
And never linger by, 
But travel joyously. 



Other words are gray, 
Dun — ugly — flying things, 

That scatter night and day 
Black evil from their wings. 



208 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



IBlue 



^ V&HEN God made everything 
ylJl'm glad he had a lot of blue- 
A great big sky for all the world 
And eyes like yours for you. 



The Moon Walked 

CHE moon walked across the lake, 
And left a trembling glittering wake; 
But when she stepped upon the green, 
Not a silvery trace was seen. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 209 

In School 

IN school, children sit in rows, 
Just the way the green corn grows, _ 
They should be glad they needn't stay 
In rows as corn does night and day. 
For it is fun to play and shout 
And run quite far when school is out. 



(Bttohtt 



HALLOWE'EN 
COLUMBUS DAY 
CARS 
SHIPS 

AND 

OTHER 

OCTOBER 

THINGS 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 213 



October 



© 



LACK and gold and red and brown, 
Olive, pink, and blue. 
What a riot of a gown — 

What a medley hue! 
What a way to go about — 

Crimson cloak and vest ! 
October is a dancer 
Dancing down the West. 

Autumn Play 

^ ■ &ORLD, to-day you're red and gold, 
yl^Who could call you sad or old? 
Who could say that autumn grieves ! — 
See, she dances through the leaves 
Like a happy child at play 
On a golden holiday. 
Come out in the sun and see 
What a glorious child is she. 
Not a sad thought in her head. 
Radiant with gold and red — 
Autumn world of red and gold 
Who could call you sad or old? 



214 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Before It's Time 
to Go to Bed 



© 



EFORE it's time to go to bed. 
Let's have a feast," October said, 
"Let's call our family all together. 
And celebrate this pleasant weather"; 
Then every leaf put on her best, 
And each small shrub most richly dressed, 
In red and gold and orange, too. 
And many another party hue. 
The party lasted day and night. 
Until the leaves were tired quite, 
"O Mother Dear," at last each said, 
"It's time for us to go to bed ; 
Dear Mother Tree, good-night to you!" 
Then loosed her hand and off it flew. 
And every little sleepy head 
Soon settled in the garden bed. 
And dreamed the dreams that flowers do 
And slept and slept the winter through. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 215 



I Love These Days 



X 



LOVE these days when autumn 
leaves 
Are falling everywhere around. 
And I can tread among the sheaves, 
And hear the crispy, crunchy sovmd. 



I leave my dolly safe at home, 

And climb the old gray orchard wall; 
The squirrels spy me where I roam. 

And scamper to the treetops tall. 

And O, it is a pleasant thing 
To listen for the happy sound. 

Each little leaflet tries to sing, 
That rustles softly to the ground. 

And so I spend the afternoon, 

And watch the leaves go floating by 

Till Mother comes to say that soon 
The dark will come into the sky. 

I know when stars are overhead, 
The leaves all gather in a heap, 

And while I lie quite warm in bed. 
They snuggle close and go to sleep. 



216 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Cars Go Fast 



a 



ARS go fast along the street, 
They're faster than the fastest feet, 
And people may ride at their ease 
To any little town they please. 



Cars go north, south, east, and west, 
(I wonder which way is the best!) 
On any street they choose to be 
Are people walking round like me. 

Cars go along on every way 
And never tire all the day; 
But I should grow quite tired out 
If I should always run about. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 217 



Across the Bridge 



HWAY across the bridge they go 
At morningtime they hurry so, 
And then when dark comes to the sky 
They hurry back — I wonder why! 



Work Time and Sleep Time 



o 



AYTIME is the time for light, 
Better work before the night; 
Better get your tasks all done 
And your playing in the sun. 



Daytime work is always best; 
Best to keep the night for rest; 
Night was meant for sleep, no doubt, 
For God then puts the sun's light out. 



218 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Song for Columbus Day 

I TOOK my three little trusty boats 
And I went out to sea, 
The Pinta, the little Nina 
And the good old Santa Marie. 

I looked for the road to India, 

As rich as rich could be. 
And for that were spread the broad white 
sails 

Of Pinta, Nina, and Santa Marie. 

I sailed and sailed for many a day. 
And the sailors all frowned at me 

And the Pinta, the little Nina, 
And the good old Santa Marie. 

But when I cried, "Land, land ahead!" 
They were gay as gay could be; 

And they praised the Pinta and Nina 
And the good old Santa Marie. 

And what I found in the far, far West 

Only God's sight could see. 
So, all, give thanks for the Pinta, 

The Nina, and Santa Marie. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 219 

The Three Little Ships 

CHERE are great big ships and they 
ride all day, 
And they hurry to good lands far away, 
But there never were ships so brave as the 

three. 
The Pinta, the Nina, the Santa Marie! 

With engines that jar and puff through the 

gales 
The big ships go ; but good strong sails 
The little ships had — and they spread them 

free 
On the Pinta, the Nina, the Santa Marie! 

The waves were mad and the winds were 

cold, 
But the heart of the pilot was true and bold ; 
And strong was his faith in the new strange 

sea 
And the Pinta, the Nina, the Santa Marie. 

O great big ships that forever ride. 

These little ships found you your way 

through the tide. 
And never shall ships be brave as the three, 
The Pinta, the Nina, the Santa Marie. 



220 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Little Columbus 

nITTLE Columbus, when you stayed 
In Genoa, at school, and played 
All afternoon out on the street, 
Or hurried down with eager feet 
To the boats, did you ever dream that you 
Would find a world so strange and new? 

Did you play like us with children's toys, 

And talk of things to other boys — 

All the brave thoughts that you knew? 

Did you think the tales were true 

You read in queer large books upon the 

highest shelf? 
Did you go off by yourself 
To dream out quite alone 
What you would do when you were grown, 
Little Columbus? 

I wonder so Columbus Day, 

I wonder what you liked to play. 

And what the boys all thought of you, 

And were they just as brave and wise and 

true. 
Little Columbus? 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 221 



Columbus 




Ni Italian boy that liked to play- 
In Genoa about the ships all day. 
With curly head and dark, dark eyes, 
That gazed at earth in child surprise; 
And dreamed of distant stranger skies. 

He watched the ships that came crowding in 
With cargo of riches ; he loved the din 
Of the glad rush out and the spreading sails 
And the echo of far-off windy gales. 

He studied the books of the olden day; 
He studied but knew far more than they; 
He talked to the learned men of the school — - 
So wise he was they thought him a fool, 
A fool with the dark, dark, dreamful eyes, 
A child he was — grown wonder-wise. 

Youth and dreams are over past 
And out, far out he is sailing fast 
Toward the seas he dreamed; — strange 

lands arise — 
The world is made rich by his great em- 
prise — 
And the wisest know he was more than wise. 



222 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Song of Columbus 



G 



OLUMBUS was a brave man, 
On the land and sea, 
He loved his God, his men, his land. 
His sail-boats three. 



Columbus and his sailors 

Went venturing on the sea, 
O they went sailing far and wide 

In sail-boats three. 

The Pinta and the Nifia 
And the blessed Santa Marie, 

And these were brave and gallant boats 
As ever took to sea. 

If we should go a-sailing 

Upon the great, broad sea, 
We'd never see such sailors 

Or sail-boats three! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 223 

PaloSj SpaiUj 1492 

iXiHAT a stir in the harbor! 
\\y What a stir in the street 1 
What a stowing of cargo 
And noisy hurrying feet I 

What a stir on the quay steps 
As the boats turn out to sea; 

Were ever ships half so gallant 
As Columbus' little three? 

What a waving of kerchiefs; 

What a stir in the breast; 

What a tumult of feeling 

As the ships dropped into the West. 
• •••••• 

What a stir in Palos 

When the Nina came again; 
What a ringing of mad wild bells 

What a feting of men! 

What a stir in the earth and air 
As the mighty truth unfurled, 

Three ships and a crew and a great, great 
soul — 
Columbus — ^had found a world! 



224 FOR DAYS AND DxVYS 



In Columbus' Time 

UPPOSE 3^ou lived then, do you think 
that you 
Would believe what Columbus said was true, 
Or would you be like the wise men who 
Laughed in his face and said, "Pooh, pooh"? 




Isabel 



o 



UR Columbus, wise and brave. 
Daunted not by wind or wave, 

Greatest of seamen of old, 

When again your tale is told, 

We shall never fail to tell 

Of the good Queen Isabel. 

Little did the wise men know 

Of the truths they scoffed at so, 

But the greatness of your thought 

Set their proudest scorn to naught. 

For one lady listened well 

And marked your words — Queen Isabel 1 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 225 



"He must have the ships and men! 
He will come back home again, 
Bringing honor to our shore, — 
(Would that I could give him more!) 
All my jewels go and sell," 
Said the great Queen Isabel. 

The ships were bought, he crossed the main 
And found our wondrous land for Spain; 
One woman's name shall not grow dim 
As long as we remember him; 
She was wise and trusted well — 
All honor to Queen Isabel! 

Old Witch Riding By 

OLD witch riding by 
Through the air and through the sky, 
Stop outside my sleeping room, 
Stop a minute on your broom. 
Stop and tell me as you go. 
Is the wish I'm wishing so 

Coming true? 
Witch, witch, riding by 
That is all I ask of you, 
Hurry now through air and sky! 



226 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Seeing 



Q 



OT the eye alone can do the seeing part, 
But he who would see crystal clear must 
view things with his heart. 



Christopher Columbtis 



G 



HRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, 

where would I be 
If you had never crossed the sea, 
If you had never thought the earth a ball. 
If you had never cared to sail at all? 
Suppose the kind Queen Isabel 
Had loved her jewels far too well 
To sell them for a sailor true 
Like you, 

Christopher Columbus ; 
Suppose your small ships made of wood, 
Were not so trusty, strong, and good, 
We should not keep your day each year. 
And I should not be standing here ; 
Perhaps I'd live far, far away 
And never know Columbus Day. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 227 

My house and every building tall — 
The school would not be here at all ; 
Along the street where people go 
Only strong, strong trees would grow; 
And everywhere on lake and hill 
The land would be quite dark and still. 
With only wigwams on the ground 
And Indian children walking round. 
And not a stars and stripes in sight 
At evening or in morning light! 

dear, I wonder where I'd be 
If you had never crossed the sea, 
Christopher Columbus; 

1 like it better far this way ; 

I like to live at home and play; 
And so I'll keep Columbus Day! 

I'm glad you sailed, I'm glad you knew 
The earth is round; I'm glad the good queen 

trusted you, 
I'm glad you were so brave and wise and 

true! 
Christopher Columbus. 



228 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Chairs 

INDIAN children squat upon the 
ground, 
Their parents have no chairs around ; 
They have no chairs, but never mind. 
For squatting is all right, they find. 



Hallo'we'en 

CHE time when bats fly through the 
rooms, 
And witches ride about on brooms, 
And people try the strangest dishes — 
That's the time for making wishes. 

When pumpkin lights are everywhere, 
And ghosts that giggle on the stair 
Are waiting to jump out at you — 
That's when wishes all come true. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 229 



Boxes 



# 



© 



OXES are for holding things, 
Nails or candies, coal or rings. 

Holding anything at all, 

Big or medium or small; 

I sometimes think the house a box 

With doors and windows, keys and locks. 




A Hermit on An Island 

HERMIT on an island must have 
lots of things to do, 
But I wonder what he does at night when 

all his work is through ; 
With not a single friend nearby to play a 

checker game, 
For morning, afternoon and night are all the 

very same; 
It must be fun to walk around alone two 

days or three, 
But after that, I'd think a man would need 

some company. 



280 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

The Leaves Do Not 
Mind at All 

CHE leaves do not mind at all 
That they must fall. 
When summertime has gone. 
It is pleasant to put on 
A traveling coat of brown and gray 
And fly away, 

Past the barn and past the school, 
Past the noisy little pool. 
It used to hear but could not see. 
O, it is joy to be 
A leaf — and free! 
To be swiftly on the wing 
Like a bird adventuring. 
And then, tired out, to creep 
Under some friendly rail and go to sleep; 
The leaves do not mind at all 
That they must fall. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 231 



The Little Leaf 




ND so, the little leaf flew far — O far, 
Out to the place where the blue hills 
are. 



It took the wii^d's hand, and on it went; 
All was so new — it was quite content 

To go far away from the mother tree 
And find where the little brook found the 
sea. 



jSobemter 



THANKSGIVING 
TUSITALA 
ADVENTURES 
HOMES 



AND 



OTHERS 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 235 



November 



DO matter how hard you try, 
Old crying wind, you cannot make us 
cry, 
You make the poor leaves sorry — ^very, 
But we shall keep on being merry; 
It's good it's true 
Not all the months behave like you. 
Blowing mean, and blowing cold, 
Hurting ragged folks and old. 
As if you never would be through; 
But never mind, 
Right near the end we'll find 
A time for all to laugh and play; 
You may be all the month unkind 
But after all, you bring Thanksgiving Day 
And that makes us glad — 
And so, cold old month, you're not so bad! 



236 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

The Autumn Wind 

V^HE autumn wind is wild and free, 
^^^Vlt rides up here fresh from the sea; 
It rides and rides and never knows 
Just where it goes; 
It blew my papers all away 
And acted boldly all the day; 
But when the night grew dark and colder, 
The autumn wind grew bold and bolder. 
And tried to blow our chimney down, 
And screamed at every house in town. 



Thanksgiving Day 



© 



RAVE and high-souled Pilgrims, you 
who knew no fears, 

How your words of thankfulness go ring- 
ing down the years; 

May we follow after; like you, work and 
pray. 

And with hearts of thankfulness keep 
Thanksgiving Day. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 287 



The World Is So Tired, Sky 



© 



HE world is so tired, sky, 
Rock it to rest, 
Let it lie, lullaby. 

Soft on your breast. 
Let it lie, quiet so, 
Off to sleepland let it go, 

Tired, tired world. 



Not Thankful 

-r- THINK .he „„„ pe..„ .h.. 

■ Is sorry that the Pilgrims came. 

Is our great turkey, bold and fat, 
And really he's not much to blame. 

What if they sailed across the blue. 
And found a land for great and small. 

Perhaps it's lots of fun for you — 
He never sees the fun at all! 

So he's not thankful that they came — 
And really he's not much to blame. 



238 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Grown-Ups 

^^^v HE grown-ups are so busy, 
^^^y They hurry all the day, 
They never cut out pictures 
Or go outside to play. 




My Little Star 

lY little star lives very high; 
T almost lose it in the sky. 
Because there are so many others. 
Sisters, cousins, aunts and brothers; 
All beside it looking down 
In the windows of our town; 
But my star is mine alone, 
I shall keep it for my own, 
Keep it where it lives so high 
In its corner of the sky; 
Other children, take the rest. 
This small star I'll love the best. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 239 



When People Grow 
Too Big and Wise 



^X^HEN people grow too big and wise 
f If They seem to lose their proper eyes; 

They do not like a kite or ball 

Or any other toys at all. 



God's House 



& 



OD'S house is wide and very tall, 
The mountains serve Him for a wall; 
The roof is arched and blue and high, 
And starry-studded — it's the sky! 



God's house is beautiful with light, 
By day and night He keeps it bright; 
He loves His house; He built it all — 
The sky, the sea, the mountain-wall. 

God's house is open wide, and free, 
He lets us live here, you and me, 
And we who love His house may tell 
Of God's house that He built so well. 



240 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



When Days Are Crisp and Bright 



ffi 



HEN days are crisp and bright 
And flakes are downward hurled, 
O, to wake up in the light 
And find a white, white world I 



O, to look out all around 

On fence, and bush, and hill. 

And see the snow piled on the ground 
And on the window silll 

It's hard to sit in school all day 

And work and study hard, 
'T would be such fun to go and play 

At soldiers in the yard. 

And build a fort just like the one 
The picture has with flag unfurled; 

The summer's good, but O, the fun 
To have a white, white world! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 241 

The Pilgrims Came 

^^^sHE Pilgrims came across the sea, 
^^^VAnd never thought of you and me ; 
And yet it's very strange the way 
We think of them Thanksgiving Day. 

We tell their story old and true 
Of how they sailed across the blue, 
And found a new land to be free 
And built their homes quite near the sea. 

Every child knows well the tale 
Of how they bravely turned the sail, 
And journeyed many a day and night. 
To worship God as they thought right. 

The people think that they were sad. 
And grave; I'm sure that they were glad— - 
They made Thanksgiving Day — that's 

fun — 
We thank the Pilgrims, every one! 




242 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Sun,, Dear Sun 

UN, dear sun, that brings the day. 
What a friend in work and play, 
What a friend to every one — 
Dear, big, glad, round, shining sun, 
What a good bright world you make — 
Is it for the children's sake? 

They tell me you go shining on 
When our day is past and gone. 
That when you climb the far hill crest, 
And leave us darkness-time and rest 
You shine right on. Then in the west 
Is some small girl as glad as I 
To find you shining in her sky; 
And she is playing in her day — 
While I'm asleep quite far away. 

O, you're a friend to every one — 
Dear big, glad, round, shining sun! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 243 

Tusitala 
(ToB.L.S.) 

^^^USITALA, you can tell 
^^^y Tales for children very well, 
Soldiers, gardens, hills, and trees, 
Boats and pails and little seas. 
Tales of butterflies with wings — 
All the world of little things. 

Tusitala, you who made 

Tales of all the times you played 

In the garden, in the swing, 

In the world of everything, 

Long as any tale is told 

You can not grow sad or old. 

Tusitala, you who knew 
All the good things children do — 
Garden gate and meadow tree, 
Sofa, counterpane, and sea. 
Long as there's the wind and sky 
Teller, you shall never die! 



244 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

The Library 

Y house is very large and tall, 
And ranged on shelves near every wall, 
A million friends there wait for me 
In patient, wise serenity. 
They know far more than you or I, 
They are the dreamers of the sky, 
They are the friends that never die. 




Where Bananas Grow 



® 



HERE bananas grow 
The children never know 
The fun of falling snow. 



But sometimes where they are 
They see it as a star 
On the mountain far. 

Love it as a star that they 
Never touch in all their play. 
Shining from the far away. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 245 



The Moon and I 



m 



E played a game — the moon and I, 
The moon was laughing in the sky, 
I spied her, too, and called aloud. 
But still she hid behind a cloud. 



I Wonder if the Lion Knows 

I WONDER if the lion knows 
That people are afraid 
To meet him when for walks he goes 

Beneath the jungle shade; 
And when they scream and run away, 
O, does he laugh at their dismay? 
And does he say with head tossed high: 
"How *terribully' fierce am I"? 

I'd like to know 

If this is so ; 

But if I met a lion some day 

I would not ask, I'd run away. 

For surely it is not a treat 

To meet a lion on the street! 



246 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

I Think I'd Like 
You Better, Star 

I THINK I'd like you better, Star, 
If you were not so high and far, 
So many friendly things are found 
Quite near the ground. 
I wonder if I saw you near 
Would you appear 
So very finp; I hope you would 
Be just as pretty, bright, and good — 
Not like some that only are 
Fine and true when seen from far. 

I have a little candle light, 

Friendly, simple, good and bright, — 

I love it for it shines at night 

Upon the stairs 

And waits, still shining, till my prayers 

Are said 

And I'm about to jump to bed; 

I say, "Good-night, 

Dear candle light." 

I think I'd like you better, Star, 
If you were only not so far. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 247 



Fierce Adventures 



© 



ETWEEN the bookcase and the wall 
'Is raised a castle, gray and tall, 
The desk top is a wooden moat, 
The rocking chair's a pirate boat, — 
My little boy, turned six to-day, 
Has fierce adventures in his play. 

My little maid goes venturing, too, 
O bold grim robbers — ^what a crew! 
She helps to take the gold — but then 
She hurries back to home again 
For she must set the things for tea 
With beautiful house-wifery. 

The table's set upon the floor. 

The pirate marches in, 
And eats and eats and asks for more 

With true piratic din. 

ye who never knew the life 

Of dragon-hunting, golden strife 

Of pirates on a windy sea 

Returning meekly home for tea; 

Who never heard the black knight's call — 

1 fear ye have not lived at all! 



248 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



A Friendly Word 



a 



FRIENDLY word's a sunshine 
broom 
That keeps the day swept clean of gloom; 
And quite before you are aware 
A happy "feel" is in the air. 



To Our Good House 



G 



HIS is our house for work and play — 
A pleasant place all through the day; 
Shine in on us, O kindly sun, 
Until the glad day's work is done; 
And then across the world of night 
Shine out, dear home, the source of light; 
This is our house for work and play — 
For us and you that come our way ! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 249 



God Made the 
Mountain Very High 



e 



OD made the mountain very high 
So we could climb up near the sky 
And look and see what we thought tall 
Were very small things after all. 



To Make a House 

CHEY cut a piece of the world outside 
And put it inside doors, 
And covered up the sky with roofs 
And spread the ground with floors. 



Homes 



m 



IGWAMS, igloos, nests in trees, 
Holes for fishes, hives for bees. 
Cold or warm, and small or big. 
To make a home, build, sew, or dig! 



Becemto 



CHRISTMAS 
SANTA CLAUS 
SNOW 
FIR TREES 

AND 



MORE 



MERRY 



TfflNGS 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 253 



December 

©EFORE the old, old year can go, 
Before the new year's wind can blow 
The merriest time of all must come, 
Of Santa Claus and doll and drmn, 
And Christmas greens and fir trees tall— 
What if December's last— it's best of all! 

The Postman Is a Happy Man 

CHE postman is a happy man, 
Because he does the best he can 
To make the people's faces bright. 
He comes along with willing feet. 
He knows each person, house, and street, 
I think his life is quite a treat. 
Bringing crispy letters is his main delight. 

He carries round a bag of leather. 

His shoes are made for every weather; 

And taking all things in together 
The postman is a happy man 
Because he does the best he can, 
He makes the people's faces blight, 

Pleasing everybody is his main delight. 



254 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Every Day's a Little Year 



e 



VERY day's a little year, 
Keep it new and full of cheer. 
Keep it glad in any weather. 
So, by adding days together — 
All the whole big year is true — 
Full of cheer and shining new! 



Snow in Schooltime 

LL Saturday the sky was clear. 
But now again that Monday's here 
It snows; and through the window glass 
We see the flying snowflakes pass. 

The teacher never seems to know 
The fun it is to have the snow; 
She thinks that we can sit and think, 
And write long words with pen and ink. 

And listen well to three times three, 
And be as quiet as can be. 
And never once peep out around 
To see how much stays on the ground. 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 255 



Feathery Snow 

HEATHERY snow, floating all day 
Down on the heads of the children at 
play, 
Coming first slowly, then thickly and fast, 
As if the snowing would never be past; 
Creeping on curls and blouses and faces, 
Filling the chinks in all sorts of places, 
Freezing the poor bird with no place to go, 
Are you not sorry, O feathery snow? 

Feathery snow, floating all night. 

Aren't you happy again for the light? 

All through the dark you were falling and 
creeping, 

While little children were safe in bed sleep- 
ing; 

But where is the poor bird with no place to 
go? 

Did you not pity him shivering so? 

Where did he hide him, O feathery snow? 



256 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Work Wanted 



X 



D like to work for Santa Claus; 
It's fun to go around 
With jingling bells and everything 
Across the sky and ground. 



I helped the grocer some all year 

To carry in the things ; 
I'd like to work for Santa Claus 

And pack the toys he brings. 

And tie the packages, and keep 
The snow from off his face, 

And hold the reindeer when he slides 
Down some high chimney place. 

It must be hard to do it all 
The whole long busy night ; 

Dear Santa, if you want a lad 
To help you so — just write! 

Jim. 




FOR DAYS AND DAYS 257 



Yesterday the School 
Was Red 

ESTERDAY the school was red, 

But now it's dressed in white; 
The fences are the same; — all night 
The Snow King worked while we were fast 

asleep in bed. 
He said, "I'll make the world below 
So white and new, the children will not know 
Just where the schoolhouse is, or find the 

way 
To go, and they will stay outside and play." 
And yet we found the way — he could not 

hide 
The posts that stuck up straight beside 
The road. But never mind, when school is 

done 
We'll make a Snow King in the yard and 

have the greatest fun. 



258 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Z Wish You Were More 
Friendly, Shy 



I 



WISH you were more friendly, sky. 
You hold yourself so proud, and high; 

I cannot reach you with my hand 

Although upon a chair I stand. 



For Every Star 



fi 



OR every star a million fell — I found 
them all around, 
On road and window-sill and fence, on roof 

and tree and ground; 
I walked quite carefully at first to save the 

stars below. 
But soon so many tramped about 
They put the little stars all out 

And now it's only snow I 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 259 



The Letter Man 




Y Santa Claus goes every day 
With presents on his back, 

In storm, or wind, or sunny weather; 

His shoes must be of stoutest leather, 

And so the bag that holds together 

The wishes in his pack. 



Sheep That Keeps Me 
Warm To-day 

HEEP that keeps me warm to-day, 
Are you living far away? 

Are you shut up in a stall. 

Shivering and cold and all? 

Sheep, when I go out to play, 
I never mind the cold to-day, 
I have mittens of your wool, 
Strong and soft and beautiful. 

Sheep, sheep, far away — 

I hope you are not cold to-day. 




260 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

If Santa Did Not 
Like His Work 

IF Santa did not like his work 
He'd often have a chance to shirk; 
I think that he'd be very glad 
When many children had been bad. 
For then he would not have to go 
So long and far through wind and snow. 

On the Ice 



o 



THE joy to ride on the sharpened 

^ steel, 
With the sun on the ice, and the wind at my 

heel; 
The railroad train beside me may smoke and 

jar, 
But it cannot go as I go — so far, so far! 

O, the joy to glide as the wind rides free, 
Where the un- steeled never go on land or 

sea, 
The flying car above me may touch the sky, 
But it cannot go as I go — so high, so high! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 261 



Behind Each Star 



© 



EHIND each star a small dream hides 
But will not show its head, 
Unless you're very, very good — 
And fast asleep in bed. 



Song of the Snow Flakes 



® 



E'RE very small, we're very small. 
But we can cover the world and all; 
We'll drop one by one in the middle of the 

night. 
And when you awake in the morning light, 
You'll find not a stick or a stone in sight. 

We're very small, we're very small. 

You'll never hear us as we fall; 

We'll cover the church, and we'll cover the 

tree, 
And cover the people that come out to see 
What a white, white world the world can be ! 



262 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



The Fir Tree 



X 



HEARD a mother fir tree say 
All in the wood a summer day, 

"Children, if you're straight and good 

In the wood, 

You shall grow at last to be 

A Christmas tree!" 

And O, the small trees heard 

Every single word, 

And the little stars shone down to light 

The limbs like Christmas night. 

And so all year they stood 

Straight and good ; 

And then we brought one here to be 

Our shining Christmas tree. 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 263 



Great White World 







REAT white world beyond the win- 
dow-sill. 
White fence, white tree, white cart, white 

hill. 
You lie outside all calm and still 
As if the ground were never green 
And buttercups were never seen. 
And red and blue things in the grass 
For all the children that may pass ; 
And twitterings and buzzings, too. 
That make us listen passing through; 
But now a hush is in the air— 
A blanket's spread out everywhere 
And all the world is white and still. 
White fence, white tree, white cart, white 

hill. 



264 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 



Our Christmas Tree 



O 



O you know 

How long it took our pretty tree to 



grow? 



How it stood 

In the quiet wood, 

How one pretty star at night 

Filled the topmost branch with light; 

"Little tree," the small star cried, 

"You will leave the dark woodside. 

Travel where the children are. 

You will have a golden star 

On your forehead ; bells will ring, 

You will hear the children sing. 

You will grow to be 

A glorious Christmas tree!" 

Now the waiting time is past — 
And our tree is here at last ! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 265 



Pretty Fir Tree 



QRETTY fir tree, when you grew 
In the dark and damp and dew, 
Did you ever dream that you 
Would come and stand before our sight, 
Dressed in gold and silver light 
On Christmas night? 

Pretty fir tree shining so, 
I am glad you learned to grow, 
I am glad you came to be 
Our Christmas tree. 

Shine upon us all the night, 

Fill our hearts with Christmas light, 

Let us make our small place bright 

All life through. 

Pretty fir tree, just as you! 




266 FOR DAYS AND DAYS 

Going to the Poor 

LITTLE maid tripped down the 
street. 
With ragged coat and ill-shod feet, 
Carrying with merry grace 
A basket ; her elfin face 
Was glowing, though her hands were red 
With cold, as through the snow she sped. 

Bright little maid that trips along 

With face of light, and heart of song; 

O, tell me why you are so gay; 

"Why — don't you know it's Christmas 

Day?— 
I'm going to the poor," she said. 
In earnest tone; and on she sped. 

And I looked long as she sped by 
And wondered if the poor were I! 



FOR DAYS AND DAYS 267 



It Must Be Fine to 
Stand and Sell 



X 



T must be fine to stand and sell 
The things the people like so well; 
To make a package small and neat, 
Lest they should fall upon the street 
When the people take them out. 
It must be fine, without a doubt, 
To keep a shop and stand and sell 
The things the people like so well. 



INDEX 



INDEX 



A Butterfly Talks, 156 

Across the Bridge, 217 

After Vacation, 191 

Airplane, The, 144 

All Day the Happy Indian, 
178 

All the Things a Bird Is (For 
Four Children), 121 

All the World Is Right for 
Play, 119 

Alone and Together, 198 

April Is a Baby, 83 

April, the Magician, 89 

April's Shiny New, 97 

Arbor Day, 137 

Are you Frowning, April- 
Child? 103 

August, 175 

Autumn Play, 213 

Autumn Wind, The, 236 



Before It's Time to Go to Bed, 

214 
Before the Fountains Flow, 67 
Beggar Bird, A, 90 
Beggar Trees, The, 109 
Behind Each Star, 261 
Beginning to Grow, 97 
Being a Fairy, 182 
Being a Hermit, 184 
Bird May Sit and Sing, A, 136 
Bird of the Sky, 186 
Blue, 208 

Blue-Eyed Grass of May, 132 
Book, Book, 27 
Books Are Soldiers, 47 
Books Never Tell, 44 
Boxes, 229 



Bright Shines the Star-Dipped 

Flag, 177 
Busy Street, A, 54 
Butterfly, Lend Me Your 

Wings I Pray, 168 



Calling the Roll, 83 

Cars Go Fast, 216 

Cat Might Sit Up In a Tree, 

A, 141 
Chairs, 228 
Children Clap Their Hands, 

The, 50 
Christopher Columbus, 226 
Clear Away, 72 
Colored Countries, 205 
Columbus, 221 
Crocuses, Crocuses, How you 

Grow, 110 
Curly White Cloud Loves the 

Sky, The, 106 



D 



Daisies Standing in the Rain, 

149 
Dandelions in the Sun, 106 
Dark, The, 56 
Days, 24 
December, 253 
Dream, A, 203 



E 



Each Dawn, 14 
Each New Little Day Slips Out 
of My Hand, 6 



271 



272 



INDEX 



Easter Day, 114 

Elephant, The, 25 

End of Fun, 190 

End of March, 70 

End of Winter, 76 

Eugene Field, Born September 

3, 1850, 189 
Every Day's a Little Year, 254 
Every One Knows March's 

Way, 65 



F 



Fairies Do Not Like the Dark, 

The, 193 
Fairy School, The, 87 
Fairy Trail, The, 152 
Family Cares, 16 
Far North, The, 74 
Feathery Snow, 255 
Fierce Adventures, 247 
Fierce Parents, 19 
First of May, The, 135 
Fir Tree, The, 262 
Flag, Our Flag, 158 
Flags, 159 
Flower Children Underground, 

The, 98 
Flowers Laugh and Talk and 

Play, 132 
For a Child's Book, 12 
Foreign Children Never Know, 

The, 51 
Forest, The, 197 
For Every Star, 258 
Fountain Is So Happy, The, 

136 
Friendly Little Wishes, 50 
Friendly Tree, The, 130 
Friendly Tree, This Is Your 

Day, 134 
Friendly Word, A, 248 



Glad Sun, The, 133 

God Made the Mountain Very 

High, 249 
God's Garden, 166 
God's Gold, 133 
God's House, 239 
God's House Has a Ceiling, 21 
Going to the Poor, 266 
Gold Hunting, 110 
Good-Morning, Day, 95 
Good-Morning, Sun, 13 
Good Words, 207 
Grass Is Very Glad for Rain, 

The, 103 
Grassy Meadow School, 151 
Great Washington, 41 
Great White World, 263 
Greeting, 40 
Grown-Ups, The, 238 
"Guck-Acht-che?" 22 



H 



Hallowe'en, 228 

Happy Little Clock, The, 23 

Harebells, 166 

Harebells in June, 177 

Harebells Ring, The, 167 

Hearts Were Made to Give 

Away, 40 
Here's a Lazy Pussy, 91 
Here's the Seed, First I Dig, 

100 
Hermit on an Island, A, 229 
High and Mighty, 49 
Hills, 161 
Holidays, 171 
Homes, 249 
House Cat, The, 55 
How a Fairy Spends the Day, 

128 



G 

Garden Wasn't a Garden, The, 

129 
Geography Journeys, 52 
Giant-Larid, 202 



I Heard a Little Fairy Say, 

169 
I Know a Man, 52 
I Know a Pussy, 116 
I Like the Brook, 160 



INDEX 



273 



I Like to Wander Off Alone, 

155 
I Love These Days, 215 
I Marred a Day, 8 
I Shall Play a Little Song on 

My Pipe in the Spring, 99 
I Think I'd Like You Better, 

Star, 246 
I Took a Little Seed to You, 

170 
I Wish You Were More 

Friendly, Sky, 258 
I Wonder Did Each Flower 

Know, 162 
I Wonder If the Lion Knows, 

245 
If a Bird May Think, 142 
If It Were January All the 

Year, 10 
If Ix>ve Were Mine, 15 
If Santa Did Not Like His 

Work, 260 
If Your Nurse Is Cross or 

Mean, 168 
I'm a Pirate, 138 
I'm January, 4 
I'm Not Just February, 37 
Indian Children, 18 
In Columbus' Time, 224 
In Land and Sea and Sky and 

Air, 206 
In School, 209 
In the Garden, 98 
Isabel, 224 
It Isn't Only Flakes That Fall, 

11 
It Must Be Fine to Stand and 

Sell, 267 
It Must Have Been Quite 

Queer, 42 
It's Fun to Have a Secret, 179 



Jack Frost in March, 64 
June, 148 

June Is Such a Bonny Time, 
169 



"June" Sang the River, 165 
June's Flag, 167 
June's Picture, 164 
July, 171 



Lady Has a Garden, The, 162 

Lamps, 180 

Land of School, The, 43 

Lands and Oceans, 57 

Lazy Little Firefly, 200 

Leader, The, 160 

Leap Year, 38 

Leaves Do Not Mind at All, 

The, 230 
Let's Take the Road and Fol- 
low April, 107 
Letter Is a Gypsy Elf, A, 49 
Letter Man, The, 259 
Letters Are Small Angels, 21 
Library, The, 244 
Lincoln, 39 

Little Baby Pussies, 113 
Little Bird, O Will You Be a 

Neighbor to Me? 109 
Little Bird Upon the Tree, 

The, 76 
Little Boy and a Cherry Tree, 

A, 38 
Little Calendar, A, 3 
Little Cloud Comes Down, 

The, 112 
Little Columbus, 220 
Little Eskimo, 181 
Little Folks in the Grass, 122 
Little Leaf, The, 231 
Little Maid of Far Japan, 29 
Little New Pupil, The, 30 
Little New Year's Come to 

Stay, The, 5 
Little Plant on the Window 

Speaks, The, 17 
Little Room, 199 
Little Seed Speaks, The, 94 
Little Tiger Cat, 31 
Little Window, The, 17 
Little Words Within My Book, 

The, 192 



274 



INDEX 



Lions Running Over the Green, 

157 
Long Ago and Far Away, 176 

M 

Magic, 191 

Man and Dog and Horse and 

Tree, 45 
March, 65 
March, March, 63 
March and April (For Two 

Children), 108 
March Wind Comes, The, 71 
May, 120 
May Baskets, 143 
May Has Decked the World, 

142 
May Has Such a Winsome 

Way, 123 
May Is Pretty, May is Mild, 

120 
May Snow, 130 
Mayor's Children, The, 193 
Meadow Brook, The, 153 
Memorial Day, 141 
Mighty Things, 30 
Milky Way, The, 78 
Moon and I, The, 245 
"Moon of Green Leaves," 119 
Moon Walked, The, 208 
Mothers, 86 
Mother's Fingers, 84 
Mountain May Seem Very 

High, The, 204 
My Book, 52 
My Book Holds Many Stories, 

20 
My Candle Most Absurdly 

Small, 50 
My Land Is God's Land, 68 
My Little Star, 238 
My Window Looks Upon the 

Sky, 55 

N 

Never Mind, March, 64 
Not Thankful, 237 
November, 235 



O 



Ocean Mightier Than the Land, 
139 

October, 213 

O Little Road, 26 

Old Witch Riding By, 225 

Once When You Were Walk- 
ing, 206 

One Little Cloud Is Out To- 
day, 135 

One, Two, Winter's Through, 
86 

On the Ice, 260 

Orphan, An, 99 

O Sea With Good Arms, 7 

Our Christmas Tree, 264 

Outside the Door, 46 



Palos, Spain, 1492, 223 
Paper Moon, A, 161 
Peeping Vine, The, 128 
Pens Make Word Pictures, 196 
People Buy a Lot of Things, 

175 
Pilgrims Came, The, 241 
Piping Robin, 96 
Pleasant Dark, The, 48 
Poets Have the Best of Times, 

75 
Poor Little Rich Flower, The, 

163 
Poor Trees Stand and Shiver 

So, The, 28 
Postman, The, 44 
Postman Is a Happy Man, 

The, 253 
Pretty Fir Tree, 265 
Pretty Nearly Everybody, 84 
Pussy Willow Days, 100 



R 

Rain, Rain, 101 

Red and White Roofs, 170 

Rhinoceros, The, 25 



INDEX 



275 



Riches, 73 

Roofs All Day, The, 90 



Safe and Sound (A Little Ac- 
tion Song), 79 
Sailor Bold, A, 58 
St. Patrick's Day, 66 
Scholar, The, 19 
Sea RoUs Up, The, 173 
Sea That Comes to Meet My 

Hand, The, 77 
Seeing, 226 
September, 189 
Sheep That Keeps Me Warm 

To-day, 259 
Sky and Tree and Hill and 

All, 150 
Sky Loves the Tall Hills, The, 

207 
Sleep Time, 85 
Small Clouds Nestled in the 

Sky, The, 69 
Snow in Schooltime, 254 
Some Curious Folks, 54 
Some People Like the Great 

Things, 131 
Sometimes, 204 
Song for Columbus Day, 218 
Song of Columbus, 222 
Song of Our Land, 26 
Song of the Snow Flakes, 261 
Song-Shop, The, 9 
Songs, 154 
Sparrow's Little Wings, The, 

143 
Spectators, 102 
Spring, 101 

Spring Came Walking, 107 
Spring Comes With Wand in 

Hand, 124 
Spring Race, The, 94 
Spring Signs Out, 104 
Sputtering Glow-Worm, 148 
Stars Are Blinking, The, 56 
Straight Young Trees, The, 

201 
Summer Glory, 174 



Sun, The, 185 

Sun, Dear Sun, 242 

Sunshine Has a Pleasant Way, 

The, 33 
Suppose You Were a Little 

Seed Underground, 88 



Tall Trees Look Out Very Far, 

The, 201 
Teacher, The, 91 
Teacher Loves to Keep the 

Rule, The, 74 
Telegraph, The, 51 
Thanksgiving Day, 236 
There's Many a Lonesome 

Daisy, 172 
There's No Land Like Our 

Land, 149 
There's So Much in the World 

to Plav, 66 
Things that Walk With Feet, 

159 
This Is God's Day, 6 
Thoughts, 140 
Thoughts and Flowers, 96 
Thousand Thoughts, A, 125 
Three Little Ships, The, 219 
Tired of Snow, 73 
To a Bird, 126 
To an Old Tree, 57 
To a Tree, 129 
To-day, 7 

To Make a House, 249 
To Our Good House, 248 
To the Cornflower, 173 
Traffic Man, The, 192 
Trains in the Grass, 194 
Tree Outside, The, 124 
Tree Stands Very Straight and 

Still, The, 196 
Tree That Lives Beside the 

Brook, The, 138 
Trees to Let, 115 
Tusitala (To R. L. S.), 243 
Twelve Months in a Row, 5 
Twilight, 126 
Two Skies, 172 



276 



INDEX 



u 

Up Clover Lane, 150 

W 

Waifs, 203 

Washington, 39 

Water Falls Upon the Ground, 

The, 48 
Wave, Wave, Wave, 157 
Weather Cock, 202 
What Does the Seed Wait for 

Underground ? 102 
When a Boy Plays in the 

Yard, 59 
When Children Play and 

Romp About, 197 
When Days Are Crisp and 

Bright, 240 
When Our Land Was New (To 

Washington), 43 
When Parents Go Out Shop- 
ping, 84 
When People Grow Too Big 

and Wise, 239 
When the Day Is Over, 85 
When the Rain Came Down, 92 
Where Bananas Grow, 244 
Where Do Thoughts Come 

From? 32 
Where Is Our Flag's Home? 

46 



Who Is It Sits at the Top of 

the Hill? 127 
Who Would Hurt a Horse or 

Tree? 140 
Who Would Tear a Page? 

12 
Why Was June Made? 147 
Windows, The, 75 
Winds of March, The, 69 
Windy Day, The, 67 
Winter, 41 
Wires Are So Still and High, 

The, 14 
Wish Is Quite a Tiny Thing, 

A, 20 
Work Time and Sleep Time, 

217 
Work To Do, 105 
Work Wanted, 256 
World Is So Tired, Sky, The, 

237 
World of Clover, White and 

Red, 156 
World's a Moving Picture 

Play, The, 4 



Yesterday the School Was Red, 

257 
You Can Measure the Steeple, 

72 






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